Patricia Jean "PJ" Armstrong Smoot, adjunct professor at The University of Memphis' Fogelman College of Business, died Nov. 22 at her home at age 58.
Smoot was the wife of James R. Smoot, dean of Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, for 38 years.
She received a degree in English from the University of Southern California and an MBA from New York University.
She started her business career with Price Waterhouse and then spent 20 years with International Paper.
In addition to being a professor at The U of M, she also lectured at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
According to Robert Taylor, associate professor and chair of the department of management, her first class at The U of M was Introduction to Management and her students loved her.
"She would take extra time with her students. It wasn't just a grade," Taylor said. "She took the time to council her students as opposed to punish them."
David Case, associate professor of law at The U of M, said that she was a wonderful person who was great to be around.
"It's difficult to capture the essence of someone with words because they are always so inadequate," Case said. "I wish I had the words to express how much she'll be missed."
David Romantz, associate professor and director of legal methods, said Smoot was "incredibly accomplished, vivacious and full of life."
According to Taylor, her students said that she could make any topic of conversation come to life.
"I was surprised when I found out (her age), because she always seemed like a younger person. She just had that kind of vibrancy," Taylor said.
She was active in the Memphis community, among others, serving on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Southwest Tennessee Community College and as the President of the Board of Directors of the Playhouse on the Square.
She was also the founder of the Memphis Human Resource Executive Roundtable and served on the Task Force for the New Freedom Initiative, which helps people with disabilities find jobs. She served as a consultant for many Memphis non-profit organizations, as well.
Smoot was the chair of the Adult Education Committee at her church, Grace St. Luke's Episcopal Church, which is where funeral services will be held on Dec. 1. Visitation begins at 11 a.m. in Trezevant Hall and the service will begin at noon.
Her family is requesting memorial donations be sent to Playhouse on the Square and Circuit Theater, Wings Cancer Foundation or Grace St. Luke's Episcopal Church in lieu of flowers. Canale Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.
