WHITNEY, Texas — On March 1, 2020, Mildred Irene Walker Jackson
of Whitney, Texas, our loving and devoted mother, and friend to all whose lives she touched, passed away at the age of 88 years.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors, 201 North Bosque Street, Whitney, Texas. Following the visitation, please join us in celebrating Mildred’s life at 2 p.m. at the White Bluff Chapel, Whitney, Texas. Burial will be at Hardy Cemetery in Hardy, Arkansas on Saturday, March 7, 2020, at 3 p.m.
Mildred was born to Thomas William and Berta Ann Daugherty Walker on August 29, 1931, in Hardy, Arkansas, where she lived throughout her childhood with her sisters, Kathryn and Doris. Her father was a banker and her mother a teacher, who taught Mildred for two years in elementary school. No hiding that report card!
Mildred was beautiful both inside and out as she was selected Miss Hardy and Miss Sharp County. Blessed with athletic talent and a competitive spirit, Mildred excelled in basketball and was awarded All District four years and All State two years, while being coached by Preacher Roe, multi-year All-Star Major League Baseball pitcher.
She attended the University of Arkansas and was an avid Razorback fan. She married her high school sweetheart Robert M. “Bob” Jackson, also affectionately known as “Corky,” on June 28, 1950. They had four children born during their 60 years of marriage. Over their life together, they lived in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, North Carolina, and Georgia before settling in Jasper, Texas in 1967. In Jasper, Mildred and Bob were members of the First United Methodist Church where she served in many leadership roles. Mildred was also active in Woman’s Civic Club, serving as the President.
In 1999, Mildred and Bob moved to White Bluff outside of Whitney, Texas. One of their greatest accomplishments together was founding, with a few other new friends, the White Bluff Chapel, a non-denominational church, which has grown to a membership of over 300.
Growing up in a musical family, Mildred played the piano and had a beautiful voice. She wrote more than 70 songs which were inspired by her love of God and her family. As a longstanding member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Mildred wrote “March of the Patriots,” which won first place in their national competition. Over the years, she participated in church choirs as well as the Bosque Chorale.
She loved to travel and had the opportunity to travel to Europe, Israel, Russia and many places in the United States, including seeing Apollo XIV blast off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. In Russia, she convinced a busload of fellow travelers into calling the hogs with a boisterous “Woo Pig Sooie.” Every Fourth of July the family would gather in Hardy to float Spring River and celebrate family and our nation with many extended family members and friends.
Mildred was very proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and enjoyed telling her friends of their latest accomplishments. She loved good food and socializing and was always ready for a game of bunco or bridge or attending a concert or play with friends. Having a quick wit and a gentle spirit, she loved people and could strike up a conversation with anyone anywhere.
Mildred is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sisters, Kathryn Ann Walker Vicry and Doris Walker Wood. Mildred is survived by her children, Robert M. Jackson and wife, Barbara of Jasper, Texas; Beth Buchanan and husband, Michael (Buck) of Kerrville, Texas; Patty Logan and husband, John of Louisville, Kentucky; and Pam Sigman and husband, Jack of Austin, Texas. Grandchildren are Thomas Bledsoe and wife, Kristi of Denton, Texas; Brent Bledsoe of Madison, Wisconsin; Jennifer Jackson Nussbaum and husband, Rob of Round Rock, Texas; Stephanie Jackson Acosta and husband, Michael of Jasper, Texas; Callaway Logan Smith and husband, Matt of Boerne, Texas; Casie Logan of Nacogdoches, Texas; Jackson Sigman and Walker Sigman of Austin, Texas. Great-grandchildren are Alexander and Bronson Bledsoe; Hannah Bledsoe and Jacob Jeleti; Nathaniel, Isaac and Ezekiel Nussbaum; Aiden and Aaron Acosta; Addalyn and Rylee Mefford and Ryan and Kathryn Smith. Other family includes her husband’s sister, Sue Jackson-Norman, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to White Bluff Chapel, 1072 White Bluff Drive, Whitney, Texas 76692, or Hardy United Methodist Church, 102 East Fourth Street, Hardy, Arkansas 72542.