Charles Edward Jackson, Sr.

Charles Edward Jackson Sr., age 94 of Monticello departed this life on March 6, 2012. He was born on October 31, 1917, in the family home on West Bolling Ave. in Monticello to James and Ida Thompson Jackson. After graduating from Monticello High School as valedictorian in 1934 at age sixteen he was employed at the Union Bank in Monticello. He attended Arkansas A&M College (now UAM) in Monticello, where his future father-in-law, James H. Hutchinson, served as Dean of the college. Charles was a 1942 honor graduate of Hendrix College and attended Naval Officer's Training School at Northwestern in Chicago, Illinois. He served aboard the U.S.S. Pennsylvania in the Philippines and Aleutian Islands, participating in the major amphibious operations at Gilbert Island, Marshall Island, Saipan, Guam, and Eniwetok. After World War II Lieutenant Jackson returned to Monticello and became a partner in Spencer and Jackson Wholesale Grocery. He married Jo Hutchinson in June 1948, a marriage spanning 49 years until her death in 1998. They were successful business owners of Western Auto and Home and Auto Center. Charles was an active and faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Monticello. He served as a Sunday School teacher for the Hutchinson Sunday School class, chairman of the administrative council and board of trustees. His community involvements included president of the Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellowship), Union Bank and Trust Co. board of directors for 34 years and advisory director, Monticello School Board for 17 years, serving as president for 5 years, (Charles' grandfather, James Jackson, was the first president of the Monticello School Board). Charles also served as president of the Monticello Chamber of Commerce, benefactor of Southeast Arkansas Concert Association, member of the Drew County Historical Society, and co authored The Streets of Monticello and wrote the foreword to Thunder in the Morning, a World War II memoir. Charles, known for his kind and gentle spirit, loved and was devoted to his wife, Jo, and their four children and embraced them with a Christian heritage. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jo Hutchinson Jackson, and his siblings: Corinne Wilkerson, Lucy Vaughan, James Jackson, Agnes Lindhe, and Betty Sample, and two grandsons James Robert and Jonathan Bolls. His survivors include his children, Dr. Charles Jackson (Kerry) of El Dorado, Jimmie Jo Leech (David) of Stuttgart, Lucy Cyphers (Will) of Camden, and Deborah Thornhill (Dan) of Little Rock. Survivors also include 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and a special family friend, Sarah Blackmon. The family extends deepest gratitude to the Guest House, gracious personal caregivers, Mary Thompson, Brenda Freeman, Linda Shepard, Hiddi Watson. Angela Purifoy, and to the staff of Arkansas Hospice at St. Joseph's in Hot Springs, and the Monticello Medical Clinic. Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church, 317 South Main, Monticello, Ark. 71655, Arkansas Hospice, 300 Werner Drive, Hot Springs, Ark. 71913 or to the charity of your choice. Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m., Wednesday. Funeral Services will be held 11 a.m., Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Monticello. Honoring their grandfather as pallbearers will be Charles' 10 grandchildren, Ryan Jackson, Nikki Babb, Dr. Ashley Plummer, Trey Jackson, Charles Leech, Deborah Jo Leech, SSgt. William Cyphers, Amber Cyphers, Leah Cyphers and Amanda Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be the Hutchinson Sunday School Class of the First United Methodist Church. Interment with Military Honors will be in Oakland Cemetery. Arrangements by Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home. Online guest book www. stephensondearman.com.