Aline Jackson

Aline Goodwin Jackson, age 61, of Arkadelphia died Monday, December 14, peacefully at her home following a courageous battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's). She was born May 3, 1948, in Congo, Arkansas, to Edgar Allen and Allie Jewell Goodwin. She graduated from Bryant High School in 1966 and from Hendrix College with a degree in early childhood education in 1970. She taught school for a number of years with her last employment being with Mid South Community College in West Memphis, Arkansas. She was a lifelong Methodist and a member of First United Methodist Church Arkadelphia.
Aline met her husband, Carroll, in January of 1967 while a freshman at Hendrix. They met in Social Forms of Dance Class and became partners because they were the only two not to be chosen as partners. From that partnership they grew to love one another. They were married on March 29, 1969. Carroll was a pre-ministerial student at Hendrix and six weeks after he and Aline were married he was appointed as pastor to four small United Methodist churches. For forty years Aline was a faithful minister's wife. In addition to being a minister's wife, Aline had a varied work history. With a degree in early childhood education she began her teaching career at Reynolds Elementary in Morrilton, Arkansas.
It was not always possible for Aline to get a teaching job when her husband was appointed to a new church, so she worked at a number of different jobs to supplement the family income. She sold Avon, sold life insurance, worked at J.C. Penney's and at a Hallmark gift shop, and was office manager at a real estate firm. The crowning jewel of her working career was the six years that she was the program director for the Family Learning Center, a program connected with Mid-South Community College. In addition to working, Aline was very involved in church. She taught Sunday School, Bible study, served as Sunday School superintendent, served in several positions in the United Methodist Women, but her love was singing in the church choir. She was a trained soloist and loved to sing Bach or gospel or an anthem. She could do it all. Aline's singing career began when she was three years old in a little Methodist church at Congo, Arkansas. Then when she went to Hendrix College she took voice lessons and sang in the Hendrix College choir.
For fun Aline loved to fish, read, cook, crochet, work cross word puzzles, listen to the Eagles and buy clothes for the grand-children. She adored those grandchildren.
After her illness she began writing short stories about her life as a child. She wrote a total of 31 stories. She was the most faithful and most beloved minister's wife God ever gave a minister. She rarely missed a service or any other church activity and when Carroll served multiple churches she went to every service every Sunday. She rarely criticized Carroll's preaching, but she would occasionally say, "Perhaps you want to burn that sermon!"
In the spring of 2007 Aline was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and was told she had 21/2 to 5 years to live. She fought a courageous fight, and continued attending church until July of 2009.
She was preceded in death by her parents and infant sister, Patsy, and brother, Robert.
She is survived by her husband of forty years, Rev. Carroll D. Jackson; a son, Dr. Matthew Jackson (Kristin) of Newport, Arkansas; a daughter, Amanda Tidwell (Brad) of Southaven, Mississippi; six grandchildren, Daniel, Maggie Jane and Reed Jackson of Newport, AR and Jackson, Audrey and Sophie Tidwell of Southaven, Mississippi. She is survived by one sister, Mary Goodwin Green of Greenbrier, Arkansas; three brothers, Henry Goodwin (Claudette) of Mickie, Tennessee, Curtis Goodwin (Gloria) of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Billy Goodwin (Lynn) of Mission Viejo, California.

Aline taught all of us so much about life and death. She showed us how one's faith in God can see you through whatever comes your way. She was a faithful Christian who has heard those coveted words, "Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into the kingdom that has been prepared for you."

A celebration of Aline's life will be held at the First United Methodist Church Arkadelphia on Thursday, December 17 at 3:00 p.m. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 16 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church Arkadelphia. She will be laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery in Arkadelphia. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church Arkadelphia, 107 North 9thStreet, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923.

The family would like to express sincere thanks to the Clark County Health Department,
the Clark County Hospice and the faithful group of volunteers from First United Methodist church who sat daily with Aline during the last months of her illness. In addition, a special thanks to friends Carol Bock, Mary Ann Wood, Reba Bernard, and Patsy Kuhn for their care, and to cousin, Betty Bassett and Paul McCormack for their every Friday afternoon care.