Carolyn Jane Jordan Byrum

Carolyn Jane Jordan Byrum, 78, of Carlisle, Arkansas passed from earthly to heavenly life on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was born June 9, 1937, in Dallas, Texas, to George and Myrtle Jordan. Raised in a Christian home, she entrusted her heart and soul to Jesus Christ at an early age and faithfully followed Him all her life. She graduated from Texarkana Arkansas High School in 1954, and attended Texarkana Junior College and Baylor University prior to graduating from Ouachita Baptist College in Arkadelphia in 1958, with a B.A. in English. She met the love of her life, Jimmy Byrum, while serving as organist at Immanuel Baptist Church, in Texarkana, Arkansas, in 1954. Married August 16, 1957, in Texarkana, they were blessed with five children, 13 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren during their 58 year marriage. The Lord called her to be a pastor's wife and she was blessed to minister alongside her husband in churches in Fort Towson, Oklahoma, Longview, Texas, and in Texarkana, Keo, Totec, Ward, and Carlisle, Arkansas. She was an accomplished musician, using her talents as church pianist and organist as well as teaching piano lessons much of her adult life. She loved her family dearly and enjoyed spending time with them. She also enjoyed sewing, travel, and teaching her Sunday School Class. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, and by her sister, Mary Turner and brother, George W. Jordan, III. She is survived by her husband, Rev. James D. Byrum of Carlisle, Arkansas; two sons, Jerry (Sherri) Byrum of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Jim (Susan) Byrum of Bentonville, Arkansas; three daughters, Mary Jane Byrum of Carlisle, Nancy (Phillip) Posey of Fort Worth, Texas, and Ruth Ann (Tim) Blair of Carlisle; grandchildren, Julie (Joel) Stone of Maumelle, Arkansas, Kathryn (Chad) Benson of Maumelle, Daniel (Courtney) Byrum of Maumelle, Luke Byrum of Little Rock, JD (Julia)Byrum of Bentonville, Taylor (Jamie) Byrum of Champaign, Illinois, Justin Tefteller of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Jamie Cox of Carlisle, Haley, Kristen and Jacob Posey of Fort Worth, Texas, and Izzy and Nessa Blair of Carlisle; and great-grandchildren, Eden Grace and Isaiah Benson, Charlee Kate Stone, and Harper Byrum. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorials be made to Trinity Chapel Baptist Church in Carlisle, Arkansas or Operation Christmas Child thru Samaritan's Purse. Visitation will be held Thursday, March 24, from 5-7 p.m. at Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen, Arkansas. Memorial service will be held Friday, March 25, at 10 a.m. at Trinity Chapel Baptist Church in Carlisle, Arkansas, with interment to follow at Walter's Chapel Cemetery north of Carlisle. Online obituary at www.westbrookfuneralhomehazen.com.