Jacquelyn “Jackie” Thomas Bowman passed peacefully at her Hartselle residence on April 25, 2020. She possessed a passion for both the people and animals she surrounded herself with throughout her life.
Born May 23, 1943 in San Diego, California to Jack Thomas, Sr., and Rosa Thomas, who both preceded her in death, Jackie always enjoyed traveling. Moving from the west coast to the east, at age of 16, Jackie returned with her family to Alabama. She went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University and a Master’s degree in Religious Education and Business Administration from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. She always enjoyed coming back to the farm to visit with her family, including her brother Jack Thomas, Jr. and brother-in-law Tony Shubert.
Jackie served children in several states. She began her teaching in Tucker, Georgia and Homewood, Alabama, before she moved to Montgomery, Alabama. She spent 13 years there educating students until her return once again to her family in Hartselle. The remainder of her career was spent at Sparkman Elementary and Middle School where she worked with special needs students. Once retired, she felt as though she had far more to give and returned to Sparkman as a Vice Principal.
The light of Jackie’s life was her daughter Katie Bowman. She and Katie loved each other’s company. Jackie greatly missed Katie when Katie was away at college and her early career. They traveled together often, instilling the travel bug into her daughter. Katie relocated to be with and care for her mother over the past several years.
Second to her immediate family was Jackie’s First Baptist Church of Hartselle family. Many of these parishioners were very close friends throughout her life. She served a variety of roles there including Sunday School Teacher.
As she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, Jackie became a trailblazer in the community as a charter member of Rock Steady Boxing of Decatur. As a boxer, the paces she put herself through helped steady her body.
Other loves of Jackie’s life included her house pets and her horses, which were numerous throughout her life.
A graveside service will be held at Monday, April 27, 2020 at 11:00AM Decatur City Cemetery for immediate family only due to the current shelter in place order. Peck Funeral Home directing.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Jackie’s memory to Parkinson’s Foundation Organization (parkinsons.org) or Sparkman School Hartselle, Alabama.
