A Celebration of Life Service will be held from noon until 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, 2023, at Cypress Hall in Hernando for Donna Faye Dixon Jacks, 72, of Senatobia, who died on Tuesday, April 18, at her residence surrounded by her family. Food will be served.
Donna fought a long and courageous seven-year battle against colon cancer. She was a determined and very strong lady. She was born on Dec. 2, 1950, in Grenada, the daughter of the late Marvin and the late Nell Dixon. She arrived strong-minded and independent, and managed to remain that way until her last breath. She spent most of her childhood in Grenada and Lexington where she accumulated many lifelong friends. She married the love of her life, James F. Jacks Jr., on Sept. 29, 1969. James “Jim” always stood by her side.
Donna became a mother to two children, Jay and Lydia. She devoted her life to caring for her family. What a beautiful job she did. She will be remembered for her quick wit, wisdom — MawMaw knew everything — and her dry and often sarcastic humor. Her grandchildren were the light of her life. She left them with so many memories and stories.
Everyone loved Mrs. Donna’s kitchen. Besides cooking, telling and writing short stories were her specialty. Everyone knows that she certainly loved dirt track racing. She would always say, “I have the bail money, let’s go racing!” She loved so many things and people it is impossible to list them all. Her family hopes that she made an impact on others like she did them.
Survivors include, her husband, James F. Jacks Jr. of Senatobia; her son, James F. Jacks III of Jackson; her daughter, Lydia Aven Jacks (Jamie) Elam of Senatobia; seven grandchildren, James F. Jacks IV of Oxford, John Franklin Jacks of Greenwood, Lydia Randall Elam (Andrew) Latham of West Point, James Kyle “Jake” Elam of Senatobia and Kaitlyn Alford, Paige Elizabeth Jacks and Emily Faye Jacks, all of Brandon; one brother, Randy (Deborah) Dixon of Hernando; her lifelong best friend, Jan (Mills) Heard of Lexington and countless other members of her loved family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the Tate County Animal Shelter as Donna was an avid animal lover.
Ray-Nowell Funeral Home in Senatobia is in charge of arrangements.
