Betty Jean Wilson Jackson

Betty Jean Wilson Jackson of Pell City, Ala., passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014 in Birmingham, Ala.  Ms. Jackson was born Jan. 17, 1929 in Tallapoosa County, Ala. (Dadeville).

She is survived by a son, William David Jackson, Jr. (David) and wife, Nancy L. Jackson (Nan) of Sylacauga, Ala., two grandsons, William David Jackson, III (Will), and Samuel Luckie Jackson (Sam), brother, John Wilson of Tallassee, Ala., and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Kate Wilson of Dadeville, Ala. and husband of 45 years, William David Jackson (W.D.) of Pell City, Ala.

She graduated from Tallapoosa County High School, Dadeville, Ala. (1946) and received her BS from Auburn University (1950) where she majored in Home Economics, Foods and Nutrition.  She later received her Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Alabama.

She taught Home Economics at New Site High School in Tallapoosa County for one year before taking a job with the Auburn University Cooperative Extension Service as a Home Demonstration Agent in St. Clair County, Pell City, Ala.  In 1952 she went to work for the State of Alabama, with what is now know as the Department of Human Resources (DHR).   She went on to become the Director of the St, Clair County Department of Human Resources in Pell City, Ala., serving in that capacity until her retirement in 1991.  Under her leadership, the department grew in both size and services offered to the county.

She was a talented artist in oil, acrylic and watercolor and an accomplished genealogist who spent many hours researching and compiling extensive family histories.  She also enjoyed gardening, reading and studying history.  In the years following her retirement, she became an avid user of her computer for reading communicating with friends and doing research. She enjoyed traveling, and along with her late husband, made many trips together across the United States.  She was a proud and fiercely loyal alumnus of Auburn University who supported and attended many university functions.

In later years, she enjoyed eating out at local restaurants in the Pell City area where she made many friends.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pell City, Ala., and a member of the LLL  Sunday School Class.  In earlier years, she taught in the Nursery  and Children’s Sunday School Departments.

Since 2012, she had resided at Spring Terrace Assisted Living in Sylacauga, Ala.

Visitation was held on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014 from 5-8 p.m. at Kilgroe Funeral Home in Pell City, Ala.  The funeral service was held on Feb. 7 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Pell City, Ala.  The service was officiated by Rev. A.L. Courtney, Rev. John Thweatt and Dr. Larry Morrison.

Pallbearers were Glenn Wilson, John Copham, Howard Rhodes, Bill Jackson, Ken Kilgore, Rick Barber, Mark Adams and Charles Cottle.

Honorary Pallbearers included former DHR co-workers, LLL Sunday School,  Harold Fairchilds, David Dodd, James and Jean Compton and Ray and Elizabeth Fell and Eddie Smith..

The family will receive flowers or memorial contributions to First Baptist Church Pell City or the charity of your choice.

Kilgroe Funeral Home—Pell City directed the service.