Eloise Williams Jackson

Eloise Williams Jackson of Barling, formerly Fayetteville, died peacefully on Wednesday, December 7, 2016, with family by her side. She was 95. Eloise was born in Strong, Arkansas on November 16, 1921 to Alben and Huey Williams. She was educated in Strong public schools prior to attending Southern Arkansas University (then "Magnolia A&M College") for two years. During World War II, she took a break from her collegiate studies to teach English and History in Strong and in Jefferson County. After the war she continued her education, earning her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1946, where she was a member of Phi Upsilon Omicron Honor Society. It was at the University where she met her husband-to-be, Charles Hilliard Jackson. After receiving her BSHE from the University she took a position in Ozark with the Arkansas Home Extension Service for three years. During this period the courtship between Eloise and Hilliard flourished - they married on December 4, 1948. In 1949 Hilliard and Eloise moved to Fayetteville as bride and groom and welcomed the birth of their only child, Randy, in 1952. They spent their lives together in their home on Oliver Street, just west of campus, except for sabbaticals to Arizona and Germany. During Randy's childhood Eloise served as a substitute teacher at Leverett Elementary and she was active in projects at the agricultural college as well as with the University Bridge Club. Her interests included cooking, sewing, and home making, and she and Hilliard could often be found in the yard working in their gardens. Eloise was remarkably disciplined, as illustrated by over 60 years of good health in spite of her Type I diabetes, diagnosed at age thirty. More than anything, Eloise was devoted to her family. Her grandchildren and great-granddaughter Eloise brought her immense joy. In 1998 Hilliard and Eloise moved to Butterfield Trail Village, where they resided until Hilliard's death on September 28, 2006. Eloise remained at Butterfield until 2014 when she moved to Ashton Place in Barling to be closer to her family. Eloise is preceded in death by her husband, Hilliard, and by both of her siblings: James "Bear" Williams and Dolores Vestal, both of Strong, Arkansas. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Randolph Charles & Leslie Dyrhood Jackson of Fort Smith; her grandchildren, Cassie & her husband Walker Dyer of Bentonville, Samuel Jackson & his wife Jillian Wilson of Little Rock, and Hannah & her husband David Cheek of Fayetteville; and her great-granddaughter, Eloise Dyer of Bentonville. A private interment will be held in Fayetteville's Fairview Memorial Gardens. The family will greet friends in the Convocation Room at Butterfield Trail Village (1923 East Joyce Blvd. in Fayetteville) for a memorial service beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 10th. Memorials may be made to the Hilliard and Eloise Jackson Scholarship Fund at the University of Arkansas, to Central Methodist Church in Fayetteville, or to Butterfield Trail Village ("BTV Foundation"). To sign the online guest book please visit www.nelsonberna.com.