Nona Faye (Ashcraft) Durham was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 15th, 2023.

Faye was born in Morrilton, Arkansas on May 8th, 1936 to Jonathan Thomas and Vestal Eulala Ashcraft. She grew up the youngest of seven children, affectionately known as "Punk" or "Punkin". She married Kenneth Allen Durham on November 26th, 1955. Faye and Ken raised four children while Faye also worked for the Coleman Dairy company in Little Rock, Arkansas. When Ken retired from the Little Rock Police Department, he and Faye moved to Buckville, Arkansas. Faye worked as a bookkeeper for Roland Bates Sand & Gravel of Hot Springs. Ken and Faye moved back to Bryant to be closer to their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was a member and pianist at the Hurricane Lake Baptist Church of Bryant.

Faye is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, four brothers, daughter, Christy Ann (Durham) Smyth, and great-grandson, Hunter Adcox. She is survived by her husband of 67 years; children, daughters, Lynnette Durham and Tammy Lawson (Chuck); and sons Mike Durham (Vickie) and James Smyth; grandchildren Shauna Russell (Kelly), Traci Cole (Brett), Brandi Smyth, Allen Lawson (Ashlea), Dallas Pettus, Cole Durham (Emily), and Hailey Luckett (Jacob); great-grandchildren Kolbe and Sydnee Russell, Josh, Joe, and Jordyn Lawson, Montana Smyth, Drake Pettus, Blakely and Willa Durham, and Luke Luckett; and very special friends, Dr. Laura Otter, Barbara Redfern

Pallbearers: Kolbe Russell, Josh Lawson, Joe Lawson, Montana Smyth, Drake Pettus and honorary pallbearer, Luke Luckett

If there was one word that could be used to describe Faye, it would be faithful. Faye was faithful to God, family, friends, and community. Faye was a shining light for all those who knew her. She was a source of strength, grace, comfort, humility, and love. She used all God had given her to bless all who knew her. She gave all credit to God and lived every day as an example of Christian love and virtue. She knew her time on this earth was limited, and what glories awaited her, yet she made every day count and shared her love, her compassion, and wisdom with all who but listened. She had played the piano at Church from the age of four, showing again the gifts God had given her, and using those gifts to glorify His name. Anyone who ever heard her pray at a family gathering, or birth of a new family member, or simply for her own communion, couldn't help but hear the sincerity in her quivering voice. She prayed as she lived, with her whole heart and soul. She will be sorely missed, but she will live on in the lives of all she touched. Her life and faith will be the standard to which we will all strive to live so that we too may join her again and sing praises together.

There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten-thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.

-Washington Irving