Carolyn Earlene Newsom, age 78, of Bismarck, formerly of Arkadelphia, passed from this life on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Baptist Medical Center in Arkadelphia.  She was born January 19, 1948, in Little Rock, the daughter of the late Pete and Marie Dotson Nichols.  Carolyn worked for Democrat Printing and Arkadelphia Taxi service.  She was a member of Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in Arkadelphia.  Carolyn enjoyed working crossword puzzles, reading and spending time with her family.  She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters, Betty Merritt, Lillian Skinner, Ruby Davis and Alice Heifner.

Survivors are her husband, retired Pastor Larry Newsom, Sr. of Bismarck, one son, Larry Newsom, Jr. (Shana) of Bismarck, one daughter, Janet Rodgers (Steve) of Clinton, SC, two brothers, Charles Nichols (Susie) of Bryant and Danny Nichols (Sharon) of Bryant, one sister, Shirley Warner of Conway, Five grandchildren, Aaron Mathis (Sheryl), Joshua Newsom, Courtney Jones (Andrew), Ashley Dinwiddie (Alan) and Kalee Yarbrough (Dalton), and seven great-grandchildren.

The family will host a memorial service at 10:00 AM Friday, February 6, 2026, at Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Larry Newsom, Sr. and Pastor Joshua Keele officiating.

The family will receive friends from 9:00 am until service time Friday at the church.

Interment will be in Pinecrest Memorial Park in Little Rock.

Memorials may be made to Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church.

Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.  Visit www.welchfh.net to sign the guest book.