Clarice Alene Jackson Deaver

Clarice Alene Jackson Deaver, age 94, passed away peacefully at her home June 20, 2013, surrounded by her loving family. Alene, the eldest of ten children born to Claude and Della Jackson, grew up in Nauvoo on the family farm, C.E. Jackson Fruits and Vegetables. The family survived on hard work and love of God and each other. Throughout her life Alene held an abiding love for her parents and siblings and the home where they grew up. Alene graduated from Carbon Hill High School and attended Eldridge College. During World War II she, like many women of her generation, worked at Tennessee Coal and Iron Company in Fairfield. There she met her future husband, Ernest Richard Deaver, and they married January 12, 1946. Early in their marriage they purchased land in the Bagley community, eventually building a house for their family from timber cut from their land. Ernest provided for the family by working at U. S. Steel until his retirement. Ernest’s and Alene’s love for gardening provided food for the family table and many life lessons for their four children. Alene also planted flowers to enrich the beauty of their lives. Most importantly, they loved their children and brought them up in the ways of the Lord. Alene was a devoted worker in the church. As a girl she taught Sunday School at Liberty Grove Baptist Church and later was instrumental in organizing the children’s department at New Temple Baptist Church, where she was a member for fifty-nine years. She worked with young children both as a teacher and in Vacation Bible School. She was active in WMU and the Sulphur Springs Baptist Association. She also taught the Adult Women’s Sunshine Sunday School Class where she was surrounded by many friends. In her later years she enjoyed fellowship in the Senior Ministry. She looked forward to being the eldest mother in attendance on Mother’s Day, a goal she accomplished several times. Alene was predeceased by her husband, Ernest Deaver, her parents, Claude and Della Jackson; and two of her sisters, Claudell Shippey and Novella Vickers. She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Nancy Mikell (Andy), Glenda Wolfe (Bill), Tommy Deaver (Karen), and Randy Deaver (Lora); her three grandchildren, Kim Hodge (David), Gavin Mikell, and Jared Deaver; her two great grandchildren, Emily and Allison Hodge; and her three step grandchildren, Jonathan Stanford, Will Wolfe, and Grant Wolfe. Alene is also survived by seven siblings, Janie Sanders, Vernon Jackson, Elga Atkins, Bill Jackson, Audie Davis, Jim Jackson, and Charles Jackson. Her survivors include many beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends. The Deaver family is thankful for the support and prayers for their mother. Thanks are extended to Margie Kirby, Tommy Luna, James Brown, and the visiting ministry of New Temple Baptist Church. The family also recognizes the care given by daughter-in-law, Lora Deaver, and the support from neighbors, especially Nell Wadsworth Francis. Mother developed a warm, loving relationship with her caregiver, Janice Crow, and the family is eternally grateful to her. The family thanks Glenda Rhodes and Wendy Brooks, who were always willing to help with Mother. The family appreciates the long term care given by Dr. Thomas Milko and, in recent months, New Beacon Hospice. The family will receive visitors at New Horizon Funeral Home in Dora from 3:00 to 5:00 pm on Sunday, June 23, 2013. Funeral services will be Monday June 24, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at New Temple Baptist Church in Bagley. Rev. Chris Wilson and Rev. Roy Carreker will officiate. She will lie in state at the church from 1-2 p.m. Burial will follow at Tabernacle Cemetery in Locust Fork, Alabama.

Clarice Alene Jackson Deaver

March 13, 1919 - June 20, 2013