Bernice Pounders

Bernice Shelton Pounders, age 89, of Little Rock, passed away November 14, 2020. She was born November 25, 1930 in Lonoke County (Furlow Community) to Oliver Monroe and Mary Esther (Jones) Shelton. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Betty Jane Shelton and Sue Kerns, brothers, Bobby Joe, Monroe, Ellis, and Sonny Shelton, husband, Tom J. Pounders.

She is survived by her three sons, Jeff (Catherine) of Arkadelphia, Phil (Jane) of North Little Rock, and Andy; and her daughter Jane (Mike) Cantrell of McKinney, TX; eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Bernice grew up on a two-hundred-acre cotton farm in the Furlow community in Lonoke County. She graduated from Lonoke High School (1948) and played defensive guard on the varsity basketball team. She was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church for over sixty seven years (she joined Immanuel Baptist Church on 08 March 1953).  She retired from ADT and from Regions International Bank.

Funeral services will be 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 24, 2020 from 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with family receiving friends from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A private family interment will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to World Central Kitchen .

Pallbearers will be Philip Pounders Jr., Jonathan Pounders, Kyle Pounders, Nathan Pounders, Drew Pounders, Reece Cantrell, Ben Cantrell and Michael Cantrell.

State of AR COVID-19 directives: Face coverings required.  Maintain social distancing.

Arrangements by Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home , 1921 Main Street, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72114. (501) 758-1170.