Support JA
Loyal Bearss didn’t do it alone. When he founded Jackson Academy in 1959, he did so with the support of 10 families.
We’re well beyond 10 families, but we still greatly rely on our supporters to continue to advance JA’s mission.
Gifts to Jackson Academy provide the needed academic support and program enhancements that have become the hallmarks of an education at JA. All gifts, no matter the size, are an investment in the potential of each child.
JA Annual Fund
Donors 2024-2025
Cornerstone Circle 25,000+
AnonymousErgon Foundation, INC.
PPI, INC.*
Jackson Academy Association
Jackson Academy Booster Club
Lisa and Michael ’92 Johnson
Geri Beth and Allen Smith
Specialty Metals*
Triangle Development*
Benefactor Circle $10,000+
Jennifer and McKie ’94 EdmonsonSharon Martin and Bobby Graham
Jane and Robert Hederman
The James Family Foundation
Trinity Apparel**
Rebecca and Robert Watson
Ashley ’87 and Mark Willso
Honor Circle $5,000+
Linda and Gene BarrettJohn Caldwell Jr.
Carson Law Group, PLLC
Patty and Don Clark
Tabitha and Stephen ’92 Clay
First Commercial Bank*
Hillary ’00 and Chesley ’99 James
Kinkade’s Fine Clothing**
Cynthia ’89 and Tim Mahaffey
Schnur Family Foundation
Debbie and Tom Skelton
Sqaure-d Clothing
Sustainer Circle $2,500+
Marsha and Haley BarbourDonna and Roger Bozarth
Ann and Rick Calhoon
Fresh Cut**
Jie Zheng and Pei Jian Gao
Angie ’96 and Neil Haraway
Amy and Robert ’90 Hederman
Lawrence Crane Theming
Jessica and Jeffrey ’96 Lohmeier
Elizabeth ’93 and Kerk Mehrle
Cherry and Patrick Mullen
Newk’s Eatery**
Jeanne ’93 and John ’92 Scarbrough
Leigh and Scott ’92 Shoemaker
TC’s Uniforms**
Eleanor Wettach
Visionary Circle $1,000+
Albriton’s JewelersKristin and Sidney Allen
Anonymous
Sharon and Jim Armstrong
Rosemary and Les Aultman
Frances and Bob Barker
Aida and Sidney Bondurant
Katie ’11 and Walker ’08 Brown
Lamar Chustz
Amanda and Trey ’02 Clark
Sunday and Thomas Cook
Barbara and Jason Craft
Betty and Rick Davis
Dean Architecture
Annette and Bob Foreman
Rebekah and Josh Gregory
Mary Ann Griesbeck
Billie and Bill Grogan
Pat and Peter Jernberg
Robin and Ed Kennedy
Kathy and Steve Kowalski
Dr. Jeffrey and Mrs. Karen Morris
Clare and George Nelson
Susan and Jojo Payne
Lulu and Scott ’90 Pedigo
Sandy and Charlie Penick
Elizabeth ’99 and Percy Quinn
Martha and Mike Summerford
Lee Ann and Calvin ’94 Thigpen
Meredith ’89 and Joel Travelstead
Robin and Marty Tucker
Sarah and Les White
Loyalty Club $500+
Deborah AllenLynn and Leigh Allen
Lind and John Bussey
Leigh ’89 and George Butler
Nena and Steve Carmody
Amy Champagne
Mysti ’96 and Philip ’96 Chustz
Countess and Ray Coleman
Peggy and Josh Davis
Gail and John England
Carrie and Nic Henderson
Abby and Ben ’04 James
Joyce and Tom Jeffcoat
Ken O’Keefe
Julie and Cole Smith
Judy and Crawley Stubblefield
Emily ’12 and Landon ’08 Thompson
Rachel and Walter Towery
Rebecca ’98 and Michael ’98 Ueltschey
Susan and Walter Weems
Kelly ’02 and Louis Wilkinson
Linda and Bob Yeager
Linda Young
Legacy Club $250+
Suzie and Jeff AdcockDeidre and Austin Barbour
Lilli and E.J. Bass
Stacy ’89 and Chris Bates
Lauren and Maury ’98 Breazeale
Debbie Campbell
Chick-Fil-a County Line**
Marlene Cook
Helen and York Craig
Cross Co.**
Josh Dehmer ’83
Harriett and Mark Eppes
Valerie and Larry Fair
Kathy and Nelson Gibson
Jim Higginbotham
Ellen Hontzas
Brandon and Foster ’98 Kennedy
Lucy and Seth Knight
Debra and Carroll LeBlanc
Missy and Mike McMullan
Janet and Mike Moll
Cheryl Johnson and Tom Payne
Steve Ray
Mandy and Brad ’97 Reeves
Marsha and Ken Revere
Betsy and Joey Samuels
Jacob Scarbrough ’25
Natalie Sheehan
Emily ’12 and Peyton Spring
Aqfa Sultana and Azad Bhuiyan
Melanie Wadlington
Century Club $100+
Suzanne and Jim AlmasHenry Anderson
Aplos**
Catherine and Peter Arnold
Judy Arnold
Betty and Shellie Bailey
Kathleen and John Barnett
Nancy and Dwayne Barrett
Leslie and Joel Bobo
Lorraine and Smith Boykin
Carter and Glenn ’96 Breazeale
Cheryl Chapman
Marimae Coleman
Phyllis and Donnie Collins
Patrina and Glen Dace
Sheila Dickard
Donna Dye
Carol and George Evans
Hilda Margaret and Bobby Gill
Robin Hall
Ann Harper
Portia Harris
Loicka and Heyward Hodges
Meredith and Michael Hogue
Martha and Eric Holland
Nancy and Bill Howard
Mary and Bill Ikerd
Jackson Academy Class of 2025
JJ Brothers LLC++
Erin and Troy Johnston
Victor Jones
Caroline and Steve Korte
Jane and Larry Lee
Lindsey and David Lynch
Denise Lynch
Marilyn and Rickey Mann
Toni and Ed Manning
Judy and Norton McKeigney
Kay and Richard McRee
Sandra and Ken Meacham
Melissa Meacham
Molly and Brad Moody
Vikki and Alexander Mumford
Julie Murray
Jan ’89 and Wen Nance
Clare and George Nelson
Performance Therapy
Robyn and Greg ’94 Pollack
Linda and Gus Purviance
Michael Robbins
Dana and Bill Robertson
Rosa Lee and Joe Robinson
Lisa and Bill Schroeder
Barbara and Ed Sentell
Terri Smith
Mandi and Bob Stanley
Becky and Art Stevens
Nancy and John Studdard
Martha Tyson
Ginger ’94 and Ben Wallace
Rose Washington
Ruth Watts
Cindy Winston
Anniversary Club $50+
Michelle and James BaquieClaire ’97 and Charles Belknap
Malinda and Reagan Brown
Michelle Cooper
Terri ’93 and Steve ’92 Hederman
Ann Harper
Ruth Johnson
Beth Keeler
Suzanne ’90 and Scott Lindsey
Jodie ’98 and Jeffrey Lockhart
Sarah Love
John Luckett
William Majure
Pat and Alex Malouf
Judy and Larry Marett
Courtney and Michael McKeating
Verlena Peters
Christi and Richard Price
State Farm Matching Gifts Foundation
Leigh and Daniel Thomas
Torres Investments LLC
Law Stanley ’25
Nancy Stevens
Ray Edward ’15 Stevens
Drury Stevens
Virginia and Richard Warren
Clarke Wilkirson ’16
Hunter Wilkirson ’19
Fran Wilkirson ’22
Scholar Club 15+
Sharron and Joe BelewBanks Bussey ’37
Beverly and Ben Fatherree
Tonya and Larry Favreau
Parker Harris
Carson Heard ’37
Larry Marett
Michael McKeating
Leyton Pharr ’37
Gerre and Robert Moak
Hux Schnur ’37
Taqueria Hernandez LLC
Charlene and Ron Taylor
Mary Hampton Walker ’24
Yonnie and Don Waller
Erica Watson
Diane Worsham
Donors from June 1, 2024–May 31, 2025
* Children’s Promise Act
** Gift in Kind
+ Combination of in-kind donations and financial contributions
++ Combination of Children’s Promise Act and financial contributions
Faculty & Staff Donors 2024-2025
Honor Circle $5,000+
Reagan and Alan ’90 JonesVisionary Circle 1,000+
Angie and Brad AnticiPat and Peter Jernberg
Karen and Palmer Kennedy
Mary Clay and Matt Morgan
Lynn and Ben Watson
Brittany and Eddie ’03 Wettach
Audrey and Jim Wilkirson
Mary Carolyn ’90 and Brad Williams
Loyalty Club 500+
Esther BensonTheresa and Adam Berman
Beth Anne and Corey Dickerson
Kathryn and Garrett McInnis
Patti Wade Magee
Jennifer and Brandt Walker
Legacy Club 250+
Carol and Trey BristerFrances and John ’06 Bussey
Jamie and Richard Byrd
Andi Ferguson
Mimi and Andrew ’07 Heard
Gloria and Stephen Hirn
Susan Ingram
Sandra and Mike McKay
Marcy and Blake Rall
Jacob Sullivan
Sharon and Chris Tucker
Century Club 100+
Elizabeth AdamsCatherine and Peter Arnold
Dee Ball
Taylor and Justin Beard
Beth and Jonathan Blackwell
Bronwyn ’83 and Chris Burford
Hope and Bob Burford
Amy and Bill Bush
Emilie and Andrew Byrd
AB ’03 and Chris Carlson
Catherine and Jon Carter
Becky and Bobo Clarke
Amanda and Myles Cross
Courtney and Walt Denton
David Duggan
Dawn Duncombe
Andrea and Aaron Edwards
Susan Elliott
Cyndi ’92 and Bryan Eubank
Ashlee Flechas
Rebecca and Parker Fowler
Patricia Frazier
Jane and Mark Hinkle
Sarah Lambert and Josh ’15 Hinkle
Krysten ’06 and Jay ’06 Jernigan
Colleen Jones
Laura and Corey Latham
Christopher Lloyd
Lisa and Steve Lofton
Michele and Mark ’97 Markow
Melodi and Tim McNair
Emily and Scott Melichar
Austin and Martin ’05 Miller
Jennifer and Robert Miller
Sheri and Clint Moody
Kayla and Seth ’00 Mosal
Beth Murray
Vickie and Robert Neal
Erin and Max ’06 Neely
Hannah and Kyle Nichols
Laurie ’97 and Brandon Parker
Shelle and James Pinkard
Molly and Travis Pollet
Jennifer and Cliff Powers
Laura Pressler
Mary and Andy Prince
Taylor ’11 and Tyler Reeves
Mary-Crosby ’06 and Walker Roberts
Melanie and Justin Schade
Madi ’14 and Austin Scott
Kerri and Jim Smith
Richard Smith
Jan Sojourner
Zoubir Tabout
Candice and Todd Taylor
Kristy Trejo
Avery and Matt Truitt
Cheryl Griffin and Richard West
Beth and Greg Williamson
Patrice and John Worley
Anniversary Club 50+
Ashley and John AdcockBrooke and Scot Akins
Walter Archie
Sara Bannerman
Jackye Barbour
Christian ’16 Burford
Helen Ann and Bill Campbell
Nancy and Bill Cheney
Andrea Coleman
Jennifer and John Conway
Bethany Cooley
Abbie and Sam Cox
Nan and Glen Dear
Melissa and Josh Denson
Carrie Ann and Wilson Eatherly
Kimbrell ’05 and Erick Evans
Jennifer Funderburg
Katrice and Jeff Hadley
Jennifer and Rawland Hall
Evelyn and Marcus Harris
Roxie and David Hood
Chloe and Patrick Hudson
Charlee Hulsey
Erica and Rabun Jones
Lisa Kimbriel
Castlen King-Rogers
Beckie and Josh Lee
Evan McCarley
Christina and Wes McManus
Jennifer and Robert Miller
Joy and Colin Miller
Gloria Morris
Allison ’97 and Jess ’98 New
Wanda and Randy Pearcy
Sydney and Christian Pinnen
Elaine Low and Ed Retumban
Bronwyn and Danny Robertson
Ronnie Rogers
Kerri and Michael Sanders
Leanna and Mike Shay
Sarah ’16 and Davis ’16 Simmons
Lori Snider
Caroline Stewart
Shannon Stone
Cassidy and Seth Swinney
Stacy Taylor
Sandra ’09 and Rob Triplett
Brooke and Michael Turner
Haley and Zeb Whatley
Samantha and Forrest White
Jeanette ’93 and Ken Yung
Scholar Club 15+
Catherine ’17 BurfordCindy and Mike Bailey
Rex M. Bradshaw
Jacob Butzin
Alesha and Stuart Cary
Holly and Webb Collums
Ashley ’16 and Matthew Elmore
Caroline Gipson
Tammy Hodgins
Neely Holland
Charlee Hulsey
Anelyse and Robert Jacobs
Chappell F. Kettleman
Thomas Martin
Lynda Morse
Suzanne ’91 and John ’83 Murray
Ashly and Zach ’01 New
Aimee and Justin Odom
Christy and Chris Richardson
Kathy ’82 and Richard Sheffield
Mamie and Zach Taylor
Katharine Todd
Meri Scott and Hank ’09 Waterer
LaDonna and Steve Whitney
Bonnie and Gray Wiggers
Faculty & Staff Donors as of May 31, 2025
Every Gift Matters
When you give to Jackson Academy, you make a difference in the lives of our students. By helping to fund excellence in the classroom and mission-focused service, you become JA’s partner in equipping each student to lead a life of purpose and significance.
Your gift to Jackson Academy will help us provide:
Advanced science, technology, engineering, and math classrooms to serve the growing need for excellence in the STEM areas.
Technology integration programs such as Apple One-to-One, PE4Life, and others.
Endowed scholarships that honor current students who demonstrate academic, citizenship, leadership, or campus involvement criteria set by the donor.
Christmas bonus gift cards for our dedicated teachers, who pour their hearts and souls into our children.
Competitive salaries and professional development to attract and retain the best and brightest teachers.
Jackson Academy is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Wonderful place for your child to grow in a loving environment full of so much JOY! JA is such a special school for students, parents and teachers. I was a student for 14 years at JA, and I am so thankful for the life lessons I learned there.
Quick Links
Meet Our Advancement Team

Jim Wilkirson
Chief Advancement Officer
601.506.9493
Email Jim
Vanderbilt University

Frances Bussey
Assistant Director of Development
601.364.5403
Email Frances
The University of Mississippi

Rebecca Fowler
Development and Event Coordinator
601.364.5752
Email Rebecca