Birdie Jean (Jeanne) Claycomb was born February 16, 1933 in Little Rock, Arkansas. She attended Stephens College and graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1955. She received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a minor in piano. She also studied piano at the University of Arkansas in Monticello and wrote a book on Piano Pedagogy. She taught grade school for several years and later taught private piano lessons.
In 1984, she started and operated a shop called The Spinning Wheel in Warren, AR. It was a ladies’ and children’s clothing, wedding and gift shop. Later, it was expanded to shops in Natchez, MS and Pine Bluff, AR.
She was a long time member of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the state of Arkansas and also a member of the DAR.
She was a descendent of William Bradford, one of the Pilgrims that came on the ship, Mayflower and settled Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620.
She is survived by her husband of 69 years, H. Murray Claycomb, her sons, Dr. Stephen H. Claycomb of Murfreesboro, TN and Dr. Scott C. Claycomb of Warren, AR, her grandchildren, Stephen Claycomb, Adair Claycomb, Matthew Conrad Claycomb, Laura Claycomb Edwards, Sara C. Claycomb, Kathleen Claycomb and six great grandchildren, all of whom lovingly referred to her as Tootsie.
Funeral service will be held 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake Village, Ark. Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Catholic cemetery. Visitation will be held 5:00-7:00 p.m. Monday, December 15, 2025 at Frazer’s Funeral Home in Warren, Ark. All arrangements are by Frazer’s Funeral Home.
