Jackie Marie White

Jackie Marie White, 92, of Blytheville, passed away peacefully surrounded by her son, Steve, and six of her nine granddaughters, Feb. 17, 2024, at Gosnell Health and Rehab.

Jackie was born to Norman and Margie Williams Christner on Aug. 22, 1931. Growing up as an only child, she lived in several different towns and states before settling with her Mommom Williams in the Gosnell area. Jackie was an only child and learned how to keep herself entertained while growing up. She told many stories about how poor they were, but during the depression everyone was poor. Living less than two miles from the school, the “ole rickety school bus” would drive by her on the old gumbo road, rain or shine. Regardless, Jackie was a straight “A” student. In her sophomore year, Jackie caught the eye of Floyd White, a brash, good-looking war veteran, finishing his senior year after serving in Europe. Floyd graduated from Gosnell High and tried to go to college at the UofA in Fayetteville. It was said that every time he opened a book, all he saw was Jackie’s face. After graduating valedictorian of her class at Gosnell High School, Jackie had no intention of going to college and was looking for a job. Floyd told her otherwise and they got married and went to college on the GI Bill. They both went to what is now ASU and got their BS degrees and taught school. She taught at Blytheville and Gosnell before starting her own business school calling in the Blytheville Business College. At one time she wanted to teach real estate in the business school. To do that she had to become a broker. She was one of the first female brokers in the area. As time went on, she closed the business college and formed J.M. White Real Estate where she worked until retirement in 1997 or ’98. By that time, she was getting a bunch of granddaughters she would help with various projects, collections, or artwork of any kind, to enter in the county fair. She became a member of the Mississippi County Writers Guild where her poetry created a devoted following of her poems. Many are still read today as they left a lasting impression. Her poems would always tell a story and would have you hooked from beginning to end. She was a devout member of the Gosnell Baptist Church where she was a Sunday school teacher and helped with many other functions of the church.

Jackie was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband of 43 years Floyd, and daughter Norma Ann Brees.

She is survived by two sons, Steven (Mallory) and Daniel; nine granddaughters, Chelsea Thompson (Jon), Anna Beth Riggs (Chris), Laura Brooksbank (Aaron), Kate White (Shane Crawford), Olivia White, Maisen White, Celeste White, Jackie Brees, Nina Brees; and two great-grandchildren, Jack and Evie Thompson.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, in the Cobb Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Eddie Clemons officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time. Burial will follow in the Elmwood Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cobbfuneralhome.com.