Irene Paul

Lilly Irene Paul of Pine Bluff, entered Heaven’s gates Sunday, February 8, 2026 at the age of 90 just four days shy of her 91st birthday. She was born in the small community of Forty-Four (Izard County) to the late Stevie Edna “Ed” Fountain and Goldie Ann Burgess Fountain on February 12, 1935. She married the late Jerry Lee Paul on April 15, 1949 in Searcy.

Irene and Jerry moved to the Pine Bluff area in the early 50’s and operated several small grocery stores. She went to cosmetology school and opened her own beauty shop. Many may remember her when she worked at J.C. Penney’s Department Stores for years. She lived in the Double Wells community. She attended the Assembly of God Church at Garrett Bridge while she was able.

Irene was a Christian and a special lady who loved the Lord and was respected and loved by her family and friends. She was a hard worker and loved gardening and cooking. She shared many stories of her lifetime. Irene and Jerry shared a special love and life together.

She could always find something to eat when a person stopped by unexpectedly, even when she didn’t have anything cooked for supper. Somehow, there would be food that she had prepared in a dish in her freezer that could easily be warmed up. Or as she called it “a tv dinner”. Several commented that sure was a good tv dinner.

Irene is best known by her grandchildren, and their friends, as “Granny”. She was a caring and loving person and willing to help anyone at any time. Yet, she could be stern or possibly stubborn. But, she was a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and caregiver to so many in her lifetime. She was the best Granny.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband in June 2013; a great granddaughter, Christa Pierce; three brothers, J.W. Fountain, James Fountain and Stevie Fountain; daughter-in-law, Gail Paul; and brothers-in-law, Louie Clark and Danny Barker.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Peggy Robinson (Dave) of Conway; three sons, Geary Paul (Naomi) of Locust Grove, Jerry Dale Paul (Iris) of Rogers and Terry Paul (Gwen) of Rison; 10 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 23 great-great grandchildren; siblings, Anna Mae Clark of Fort Smith, Bonnie Cooper (Charlie) and Lena Barker of Buffalo City, Carolyn Cheatham of Melbourne and Richard Fountain (Sherry) of Calico Rock.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at Robinson & Fuller White Hall Chapel. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday with the service following. Burial will be in Lee Cemetery. Pastor Paul Pickens and Pastor Shane Donaldson will perform her eulogy. Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Compact Hillcrest Campus, 2325 Malvern Avenue, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901 or St. June’s Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, Tennessee 38101-9929.

Her family will gather at 11900 Sulphur Springs Road in Pine Bluff.

The family would like to thank everyone who have reached out to the family in so many ways and to Gentiva Hospice for their care, support and guidance and Dr. Kimberly Golden and staff.

Online guestbook at www.robinsonfuller.com.