Sheryl Ann Jones Dunn, a lifelong educator, devoted wife and mother, loving grandmother and great-grandmother, community leader, and friend to generations of children and families, passed away on September 2, 2026, at the age of 81.

Her legacy cannot be measured only by the positions she held, the awards she received, or the years she spent in the classroom. It lives on in her children and grandchildren, in the students she taught, and in the countless young people whose lives were shaped by her care, encouragement, and belief in them.

Born in Little Rock in 1945 into a family of educators, Sheryl grew up with a deep appreciation for learning and service. After graduating from Central High School, she attended Arkansas State Teachers College. On August 21, 1966, she married the love of her life, Edward “Ed” Dunn. When Ed left to serve his country in Vietnam, Sheryl continued her own path in education, earning her teaching certification and later her Master’s Degree in Education, beginning what would become a lifelong commitment to teaching, children, and her community.

Together, she and Ed raised two children, David and Jennifer. She threw herself wholeheartedly into their lives and was the kind of mother who did far more than simply show up. She coached the swim team, became involved in their schools and activities, welcomed their friends into her home, and became a “second mom” to countless children along the way.

Her involvement in her children’s schools soon grew into a larger commitment to her community. She became active in the PTA, served as PTA president, joined the school board in 1982, and ultimately became president of the Pulaski County Special School District Board. She served during some of the district’s most challenging years surrounding desegregation, always guided by her belief that every child deserved the opportunity for a good education.

That same sense of purpose carried into public service. She became active in politics, working on campaigns ranging from local races to those of Governor Bill Clinton. She cared deeply about her community and was never afraid to stand up for the causes and people she believed in, particularly children, education, and women.

After David finished school, she renewed her teaching license and returned to the classroom. She began at Mills and later continued her career at Oak Grove High School, where she found great purpose in teaching and in the relationships she formed with her students. Her dedication was recognized when she was named Teacher of the Year.

She retired from teaching in 2008, but retirement simply gave her more time for the people she loved most. After losing Ed in 2009, she spent the years that followed watching her grandchildren, and eventually her great-grandchildren grow, creating memories with her family and remaining the steady, loving presence she had always been.

She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Dunn; son, David Dunn, and his wife, Leslie; grandchildren, Bailey Dunn and fiancé Max Felder, and Nathan Dunn and his wife, Lauren; and her great-grandchildren, Stevie and Waylon. She is also survived by many extended family members, former students, friends, and children who were fortunate enough to know and love her.

There will be a graveside service at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at Crestlawn Memorial Park, 472 US-64, Conway, Arkansas. Friends and family are invited to join in remembering Sheryl’s life from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at the home of David and Leslie.