Bonnie "Ruthie" May Heard-Penn, age 84 of Wilmot, AR transitioned Wednesday October 8, 2025, at Ashley County Medical Center in Crossett, AR. She was a native of McGinty, LA, a member of New Shiloh Baptist Church in Perryville, LA, and worked as a certified nursing assistant. Bonnie later moved to California where she lived for twenty-two years and worked as a salesclerk for JJ Newberry's retail store. Years later she relocated back to the south and lived in Wilmot for the past thirty-five years and was a member of Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church and worked in the grandparents' foster care program in the Hamburg, AR school district until she was eighty years old.

She is preceded in death by her husband Earl Penn, Sr., son Steven Penn, three brothers, four sisters, one grandson, one great grandson, and a great granddaughter. Ms. Penn enjoyed fishing and watching her favorite television shows In the Heat Of The Night and Gunsmoke. Mrs. Penn cared deeply for her family and friends, who will all miss her.

She is survived by two sons, Earl Penn, Jr. of Wilmot, AR, and James Penn wife Stephanie of Little Rock, AR, two daughters, Carolyn Penn Flanagan of Bastrop, LA, and Karen Steverson of Monroe, LA, thirteen grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, two great- great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.

Visitation will be Friday October 17, 2025, from 5:00-6:30 P.M. at Cromwell Funeral Home. Funeral service will be Saturday October 18, 2025,11:00 A.M. at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church of Wilmot with Pastor Albert Fenceroy officiating. Active Pallbearers are Kenneth Flanagan, Kenneth Mitchell, Kamarion Cooper, Kamario Miller, Brandon Parker, and Issac Green. Honorary Pallbearers are her son's Earl Penn, Jr., and James Penn. Burial in St. Martha cemetery in Wilmot under the direction of Cromwell Funeral Home Hamburg, AR.