JACQUELYN AVERY

1956 - 2024

JACQUELYN SOUTHERLAND AVERY Jacquelyn Southerland Avery passed away in peace on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at the age of 68 at Baylor Scott and White hospital in Waxahachie, Texas. She had lived in Waxahachie with her family for 35 years. Memorial service for Jacque will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 4:00 PM, Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 2610 Brown St., Waxahachie, TX 75165. Jacquelyn, known to her friends and family as Jacque ("Jackie"), was born in Meridian, Mississippi on January 16, 1956, to her parents Jack and Lillian Southerland, joining her 13-year-old sister Susan. In 1957 at 1½ years of age, Jacque & family moved to Stamford, Texas, just outside of Abilene. She completed grade school in Stamford and graduated from Stamford High School in 1974. At the age of four, Jacque began piano lessons and never stopped playing piano. Gifted with a melodic voice, she trained to be a singer from a young age, singing in church choir, drama & musical productions, and throughout her life. Jacque attended North Texas State University (now University of North Texas) with a major in Music Composition. While attending NTSU, she met her husband-to-be, Tim Avery, and the next year began studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. Both turned out to be major, life-changing events. In 1978 Jacque married Tim, and in 1979 the couple moved to Lake Tahoe in the mountains of Northern California. In the summer of 1980, Jacque & Tim excitedly welcomed their first son, Joel. For the majority of the next decade, Jacque taught private piano lessons to many dozens of students. In 1986 and for three years, Jacque worked as the Music & Voice teacher at Kings Beach Elementary School in Kings Beach, California. During her time there, she and Tim wrote, performed, and recorded the school song; and co-wrote, produced, and directed two original children's musicals. Jacque always stayed creative and inspired! In summer 1989, Jacque and the family returned to Texas, awaiting the arrival of another child during another cross-country move, in October 1989, Jacque with her family joyfully and with eager anticipation welcomed their second son Taylor to the world. The decades to come brought Jacque more and more increased teaching activity primarily with her congregation in Waxahachie, sharing with others God's promises for the future. She continued to work teaching piano, and soon also took on the instruction of Kindermusik early childhood music classes in the family's newly converted home music studio. Jacque was often responsible for the music education of dozens of children and adults at any one time. Theatre, too, was always a passion of hers, and community theatre in Waxahachie came into the picture for a while, where she and husband Tim wrote and performed music for several musicals. Her theatre background and training shined brightly and she was always at home on a stage or anywhere near itall while raising essentially three sons. Jacque always believed in the motto, "Bloom where you are planted," and she lived it. No matter where she found herself, Jacque spread joy while hosting parties, congregation get-togethers, student piano recitals, weddings, family reunions, giant stage productions, and any other gathering that would bring people together. She never made a decision based on fear of what people would think or say; every decision she made was based on selfless love for others and appreciation to God for her lifeno matter what the day brought. Because of her attitude and approach, Jacque made many real friends throughout her lifefriends who she truly loved to the end. Not one flower brought, no hug given, nor any text sent was ever taken for granted by her; she deeply cared about her friends and would constantly pray and meditate on what she could do better to serve others. Love and kindness were always her way. Jacque's heart was "overflowing", as she would say, to be able to hug and spend time with her grandsons Eli, Judah, and Leo. Jacque will be dearly missed and we look forward to seeing her again in God's new world. - Psalm 37:11 Jacque was preceded in death by her father Preston Jack Southerland, mother Lillian Margareth McCullough Southerland, and sister Meida Sue Southerland Bailey. She is survived by her husband Tim Avery; sons Joel Avery and Taylor Avery; daughter-in-law Rebecca Avery; grandsons Elijah Avery, Judah Avery, and Leo Avery; and nieces Lisa Holm and Gracie Bailey - and so many others.