Heart of a servant: Circuit Clerk Mary Pankey retires, prepares for new role on Quorum Court
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Miller County Circuit Clerk Mary Pankey bid a heartfelt farewell Friday to all the people and court records she knows so well.
Pankey said she has been guided by a golden rule throughout more than 50 years of public service.
“No matter who comes to your office, whatever their problem or need, you always need to treat them nice,” Pankey said to about 80 t0 100 friends, co-workers and well-wishers who came to her retirement ceremony at Miller County Courthouse.
During her 16 years as circuit clerk, Pankey affectionately became known as the Queen of Projects, Deputy Circuit Clerk Carla Tynes said.
“When it came time for the county to switch to electronic computer record filing, Mary was the first on board,” Tynes said.
Pankey said good organization became a natural way to serve the people.
“I’ve always liked organization, and I wanted a system that would work the best for our citizens.”
Born in Fouke, Arkansas, Pankey lived in Houston for a time before coming back to the area to serve in both municipal government and the county judicial system.
She started as a municipal court clerk for Texarkana, Arkansas, before going on to serve as the city’s treasurer. In 1972, she was named city clerk.
Pankey went to work as municipal court clerk for Judge Phillip Purifoy in 1974. When Purifoy was elected as circuit chancery judge in 1983, Pankey became his case coordinator until his retirement in 2002.
Pankey was first elected as circuit clerk in 2006, taking office the following January.
Retirement is opening yet another door for Pankey. In the May 24 election, she was uncontested in the race for Precinct 4 justice of the peace. Miller County Judge Cathy Harrison welcomes Pankey to the Quorum Court.
“Mary was a life-long public servant, and she gave it everything she had, 100 percent. I’m looking forward to having her continuing her service on the Quorum Court,” Harrison said.
Chief Deputy Circuit Clerk Penny Kilcrease will be the next circuit clerk, being uncontested in the May election. She has worked in the circuit clerk’s office for 17 years and has served as Pankey’s chief deputy for 14 years.