Nona Eloise Davis Livingston of Booneville, MS, formally of Eva, AL, died June 16, 2019, at The Landmark Retirement Community. She was born in Tishomingo County, Mississippi, on March 12, 1931, to James Barney Davis and Nona Gladys Elliott Davis. Mrs Livingston was a graduate of Booneville High School, Booneville, MS; a graduate of Florence State Teachers College (now the University of North Alabama), with a Bacholor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. She received a Master’s Degree from University of Alabama in Library Media Services and Supervision and AA Certificate from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
Mrs Livingston began her professional career as a classroom teacher at Eva High School in Eva, AL, in 1953, where she met her future husband, Terrell Livingston, whom she would later marry on April 15, 1955. She became the first librarian at Eva High School in 1962. In 1976, she accepted the position as the first Library Media Service Supervisor/ Director in the Morgan County School District and continued in that position until she retired in 1992.
Mrs. Livingston’s professional organizations were Alabama Educational Association, Morgan County Educational Association, Alabama Library Association, Alabama Instructional Media Association, Alabama Retired Education Association and Cullman County Retired Education. Other organizations of which she was a member included Delta Kappa Gamma International, the Quest Club, Eva Public Library Board and Eva Medical Board. Mrs. Livingston was instrumental in establishing the Eva Public Library and recruiting the first doctor at the Eva Medical Clinic. Mrs. Livingston was a member of Westside Baptist Church where she taught Adult Sunday School for many years. After she relocated to Booneville, MS, in 2011, she became a member of the National Kappa Kappa Iota, Inc.; United Daughters of the Confederacy; Daughters of the American Revolution; American Association of University Women; Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers and East Booneville Baptist Church.
Mrs Livingston received many honors and awards during her career. She was twice selected Morgan County’s Outstanding Teacher; was a finalist in “Teacher Hall of Fame” in 1974; appointed Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Aid-de-Camp in Alabama State Militia by Governor George C. Wallace in 1983; received the Eva Alumni Award for years of dedicated service to Eva Schools in 1986; received the Lois E. Henderson Award for outstanding contributions to the field of Library Service and to AIMA in 1988; received the “Award of Exceptional Service” for significant contributions over an extended period of time to Alabama Libraries in 1988; inducted into the Library Hall of Fame in 1990; received the 1992 President’s Award from LAMP; on November 10, 1992, the Morgan County Board of Education and Superintendent signed a resolution that the library at Eva School would be officially be named The ELOISE LIVINGSTON LIBRARY; received the Ruth H. Johnson Award for cumulative services to the library profession in 1994; received the Beta State Woman of Acheivement Award in 2011. Mrs Livingston was always an active member of each organization of which she was a member. She held almost every office including president and as chairman on local, regional and state committees.
Mrs Livingston was preceded in death by her husband: Terrell Livingston, her parents, one sister: Shirley Davis Runions, one brother: James Barney Davis, Jr., two brothers-in-law: S.S. “Chick” Runions and Jasper Jones, and one nephew: Phil Rollins.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 22, 2019 at Peck Funeral Home in Hartselle, AL with Rev. Wendell Bennett and Rev. Deacon Charles Venable officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m until 2:00 p.m. prior to the Celebration of Life. Phillip Rollins, II and Jason Rollins will deliver the eulogy.
Interment will be in the Eva Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Tommy Moses, Jerry Turner, Darren Turner, Phillip Venable, Darrell Waldrop and Gary Lewis Livingston.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Eloise Livingston to the Eva Public Library, P.O. Box 99, Eva, AL 35621 or to Delta Kappa Gamma Alabama State Scholarship Fund, 622 Ross Street, Heflin, AL 36264.
Peck Funeral Home
