Mrs. Jacquelyn "Jackie" McElwee (Marlowe) Carpenter

Mrs. Jacquelyn McElwee Carpenter (née Marlowe), beloved wife, mother, sister, and

cherished friend to many, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2026, in St. Augustine,

Florida, just weeks before her 90th birthday.

Known to all who loved her simply as “Jackie,” she was born on March 28, 1936, in

Gainesville, Georgia, the daughter of Buck and Grace Marlowe. She grew up alongside

her siblings Eddie, Donald, and Judy in a close-knit home that shaped her into the warm,

resilient, and devoted woman she remained throughout her long and beautiful life.

While growing up in the small town of Jefferson, Georgia, Jackie spent more than fifty

years in Athens, where she built a remarkable professional and personal life. After

attending Athens Business College, she began a career in banking, starting as a secretary

and quickly advancing. As a working mother, she balanced family and career with

characteristic energy and determination.

Her daughters’ involvement in the 4H Club eventually led Jackie to a position at the

University of Georgia College of Agriculture, which in turn opened the door to a role in

the Dean’s Office at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. There she

directed student activities and later served as director of the Extern Admissions program

for students studying abroad. In addition to her work at the university, Jackie also

directed a summer camp program and successfully ran her own ladies’ fashion boutique

“IV Seasons” for 23 years.

Jackie shared the final years of her life with her devoted husband, James Carpenter.

Together, Jim and Jackie built a home filled with warmth, laughter, and enduring love

and they enjoyed many happy years. From her first marriage with her childhood

sweetheart James L. McMullan Jr., she welcomed her daughter, Cheri Carter, who

remained a constant source of pride and joy throughout her life with her son-in-law Tom

Carter.

Later in life, Jackie moved to a retirement community in St. Augustine, Florida, where

she quickly found friendship and community. The residence, now known as Westminster

St. Augustine, became a place she deeply loved and called home.

Jackie is survived by her husband, James Bruce Carpenter; her daughter and son-in-

law, Cheri and Tom Carter of Washington D.C.; her brother, Eddie Marlowe; and Cheri’s

father, James L. McMullan Jr.; she is also remembered by many loving children by

marriage, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Buck and

Grace Marlowe; her husbands, Alfred Few “Mac” McElwee and Kenneth Clifford

Grimes; and her siblings, Donald Marlowe and Judy Marlowe Mitchell.

Jackie’s gentle spirit, grace, and warm Southern charm touched everyone fortunate

enough to know her. Her memory will be treasured by all who were blessed to share in

her life.

A Graveside Service will be held on her 90th birthday, at 2 pm on March 28, Woodbine

Cemetery, 147 Athens Street, Jefferson GA 30549. May those who loved her find

comfort in the beautiful legacy she leaves behind.

The family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to the Herbie Hancock

Institute of Jazz, 5225 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite #605, Washington, DC 20015.

www.hancockinstitute.org

Evans Funeral Home, Inc., 1350 Winder Highway, Jefferson, Georgia.  706-367-5467       

Online condolences at www.evansfuneralhomeinc.com

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