Biography:

Nancy Jo Smith passed away August 28 at her Little Rock home surrounded by family and friends.  She was 73. For 45 years, Jo dedicated her life to helping and caring for patients at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, most recently as director of Special Services.

Born Nancy Jo Atkins in Camden on July 11, 1952,  she came by her love of helping others naturally, learning it from her parents, Martha and Buddy Atkins.  The second of five children, Jo’s career in health care began in the eighth grade when her mother, president of the Camden Junior Auxiliary, signed her up to be a candy striper at the Ouachita County Medical Center.

After high school, Jo studied nursing at Henderson State University before moving to UAMS where she  graduated from the College of Nursing as part of the first nurse practitioner program. Her UAMS career  included positions as a nurse in the Emergency Medicine and Orthopaedics Departments, where she was chief nurse under the late chairman Carl Nelson, M.D.

In 2002, she became director of Special Services, transforming the department into an invaluable resource for patients who needed help navigating the health care system. In 2024, Ross and Mary Whipple of Arkadelphia honored Jo for her service and unwavering commitment to patients by establishing the Nancy Jo Smith Special Services Fund for Excellence to support and expand patient services across UAMS.  

Jo’s dedication has been recognized in several ways at UAMS. The second floor surgery waiting area of UAMS Medical Center is named in her honor and she received the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Service at UAMS’ commencement in 2022. An annual Chancellor’s Circle grant named in Jo’s honor supports patient services. A scholarship in the College of Nursing bears her name. And, she was named a “Phenomenal Woman” during a UAMS celebration of Women’s History Month.

On September 20, she will be honored for her outstanding contributions to improving the lives of UAMS cancer patients with the Pat and Willard Walker Tribute Award at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s Gala for Life at the Statehouse Convention Center.

Jo was also honored as Nurse of the Day on the floor of both the Arkansas Senate and Arkansas House of Representatives.

Jo was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her son and the love of her life, J.C. Smith, of Little Rock; her sisters, May Atkins and Julie Atkins, both of Little Rock and her brothers, Charlie Atkins (Emily) of Conway and Billy (Lori) of Camden. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly. Family was particularly important to Jo, and she appreciated the unconditional love and care she received from her family throughout her life.

Jo loved helping people and “fixing things,” as she put it. Thousands of patients across Arkansas and the world were touched by her compassion. She was there for them when they needed her the most, sitting by their bedsides, arranging appointments, meeting them in the emergency room and comforting their loved ones. Her compassion wasn’t based on  any timetable as she made herself available 24 hours a day.  She treated everyone with the same kindness and respect, whether they were dignitaries, donors or strangers. She was beloved by her UAMS co-workers and many friends and will be deeply missed.

A celebration of Jo’s life will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1101 North Mississippi St. in Little Rock on September 6 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow.

Honorary pallbearers will be David Ashmore, Will Atkins, C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., Del Boyette, Taylor Carney, Remmel Dickinson, Sam Johnson, Rodney Thomason and Ross Whipple.

The family wants to share their gratitude to all of Jo’s dear and loving friends and Jo’s neighbors at Treetops who have provided invaluable support and care and have been at Jo’s side and her family’s side throughout the last months of her illness. In addition, they thank her work family at UAMS for their love and support and caregivers at SeniorKare for their loving care of our precious Jo.

Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, the Nancy Jo Smith Special Services Fund for Excellence at UAMS, the Nancy Jo Smith Endowed Scholarship in the UAMS College of Nursing or to the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s Gala for Life at 4301 W. Markham, Slot 716,  Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205 or https://give.UAMS.edu/NancyJoSmith. The service may be remotely view by visiting https://tumclr.org/stream-our-services