W. Neil Maynard

W. Neil Maynard of Stuttgart passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Little Rock. He was 84 years old. Neil was born in Winthrop, Arkansas, the son of Eurby (nee Abney) Maynard and J.D. Maynard Jr. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Nelda Wilkinson.

Neil is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Marianne Crank Maynard; his three sons, Eric (Susie) Maynard of Redfield, Arkansas; Jason (Nicole) Maynard of Nashville, Tennessee; and Alex (Natalie) Maynard of Stuttgart, Arkansas; and his eight grandchildren: Abbey, Will, J.D., Isabel, Carolina, Madelyn, Molly, and Weston.

Neil graduated as valedictorian from Winthrop High School in 1959. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Arkansas before attending the University of Arkansas Law School. Neil was an active member of ACACIA fraternity while in Fayetteville, serving as president in his senior year.

Neil started his career at Worthen Bank in Little Rock before moving to Stuttgart in 1967, where he became President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board at First National Bank in Stuttgart, Arkansas. In 1992, he started his own retail business in downtown Stuttgart, running Mayn-Mart until 2018.

Neil understood the importance of serving his community. To that end, he spent a great deal of time as a volunteer and leader for the betterment of his community. He spent seventeen years on the Stuttgart Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, including a stint as chairman. He served for more than thirty years on the Planning Commission in Stuttgart, also serving as chairman. He also served as a leader of the Stuttgart Industrial Development Corporation, the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, the Arkansas Bankers Association, and the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.

Despite juggling the demands of work and community service, family was paramount in his life. Summers were spent at Greers Ferry Lake with family and friends. He regularly organized trips for all his children and grandchildren to convene across the country, with many destinations at a beach he wanted to visit. And he loved traveling with his beloved wife to destinations both domestic and international. Whenever the Maynard family gathered, there were sure to be fierce domino and card games, Razorback sports, debates on politics or financial markets, and lots of love and laughter. Neil was gregarious and passionate and full of life until the very end, and those who were blessed to have been loved by him will miss him dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 726, Stuttgart, AR 72160.

A visitation will be held at the Maynard home, located at 2110 Strait Place in Stuttgart, on Friday, March 20, between 5- 7 p.m. On Saturday, March 21, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Stuttgart will conduct a Celebration of Life at 11 a.m.