Annielaura Jaggers

AnnieLaura Mixon Jaggers, 94, of Dardanelle, author, scholar, newspaper columnist, mentor, friend and foremost a beloved wife, mother and grandmother, died Wednesday, Aug. 21 at the Dardanelle Nursing and Rehab Center. AnnieLaura was the author of four books, including an acclaimed biography of Arkansas Poet Laureate Lily Peter titled A Nude Singularity: Lily Peter of Arkansas. She had a special connection with Ms. Peter because she grew up in the same part of Eastern Arkansas. Other books were A Professor's Unforgettables, stories of memorable students; Billy Freeman: Florida Keys Sheriff, and Carl & Me & WWII, a collection of letters and memories. She was an elder, choir member and sometimes organist and pianist at First Presbyterian Church in Dardanelle. Until her death, she was an active philanthropist, patron of the arts and member of many civic organizations. She also wrote a weekly column that appeared in several newspapers, including The Atkins Chronicle, the Dardanelle Post Dispatch, and the White River Journal. She returned to college after raising her children and completed a bachelor's degree at Arkansas Tech University and then a master's degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She returned to Russellville and taught humanities (Arts and Ideas) courses and philosophy courses at Arkansas Tech for 24 years. Annie Laura Mixon was born Dec. 22, 1918, in Turner, Ark., Cypert (now Philllips) County in eastern Arkansas, the daughter of Laura O. Walker and Frederick F. Mixon. She married Carl J. Jaggers on March 3, 1940. They were married for 55 years. Following Carl's death in 1995, she moved to Key West, Fla. where she lived for six years. A few years after returning to Dardanelle, she married Les Grady, who died in 2008. Surviving are two children, Christiana Jaggers Rollans, married to Gary of Dardanelle, and Carl Frederick Jaggers, husband of Kathy, of Fort Worth, Texas. Also surviving are grandchildren, Jennifer Samuels (Marty) and Jeremy Rollans (Myra), Felicia Rogers (John) and Carl Jaggers (Lucinda). Surviving great-grandchildren are Ben Wilkins, Ryan Rollans, Kate Rollans, Dalton Wiley (Brook), Zander Jaggers and Cassidy Rogers., and one great-great-grandchild, Abbagail Wiley. She was also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Dardanelle, Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church (200 N. Second, Dardanelle, Ark. 72834), Heifer International (1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202, www.heifer.org) or AETN (350 S. Donaghey, Conway, Ark. 72034, www.aetnfoundation.org). Cremation arrangements by Cornwell Funeral Home and River Valley Cremations in Dardanelle. Online Guest Book and Condolences at www.cornwellfuneralhomes.com.