Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Mrs. Waller dies

The Office of the Courts sent out this press release:


Former Mississippi First Lady Carroll Waller died Oct.  28

October 28, 2014

            Former Mississippi First Lady Ava Carroll Overton Waller, 87, of Jackson, died Tuesday, October 28,  at Manhattan Nursing Home after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. 

            Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, October 31, 2014, at First Baptist Church, Jackson.  Visitation will be in the Fellowship Hall of the church from 11  a.m. until the funeral service that day.

            Carroll Waller was the widow of former Mississippi Governor William L. (Bill) Waller. They were married for 61 years. 

            The former Mississippi First Lady leaves a legacy of historic preservation.  She spearheaded efforts to restore the Governor’s Mansion. The executive residence, built in 1842,  had fallen into such disrepair that former Gov. John Bell Williams and his family moved out in 1971. Gov. Waller was in office 1972-1976. During that time, Carroll Waller led efforts for the architecturally correct restoration of the Governor’s Mansion and the  construction of the neoclassical gardens which surround the Mansion.  Although  the Waller family lived in the executive residence for only a few months, their efforts preserved the landmark for the enjoyment of future generations.  Carroll Waller spearheaded efforts to have the Mansion designated a National Historical Landmark, which was the second executive residence in the nation so designated. She also provided leadership for the purchase and restoration of the historic Manship House in Jackson.  For these projects, she received an Award of Merit from the Mississippi Historical Society in 1980.  Carroll and Dr. David Sansing co-authored the book The History of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion, with the proceeds used for the upkeep of the Governor’s Mansion.

            As First Lady, Carroll was also instrumental in securing passage of legislation which designated Mississippi’s state animal as  the white-tailed deer; a state fish, the large-mouthed bass; a state water mammal, the porpoise; a state sea shell, the oyster; and a state water fowl, the wood duck.  At her request, a beautiful red rose known as the Mississippi Rose  was hybridized for the state. The Carroll Waller Camellia was hybridized especially for her. These and native plants of distinction are part of the landscape of the Mansion grounds.

            She gave leadership to the creation of a learning resources system in the Department of Education, including provisions for the evaluation of all children suspected of having learning disabilities. She served as National Library Week chairman and sponsored the Mississippi Library Commission’s bicentennial project, the collecting of autographed books by Mississippi authors for the Mansion.  She served as chairman for numerous organizations across the state. Her service included two five-year terms on the Mississippi Arts Commission, Keep Mississippi Beautiful Committee, Board of the Municipal Art Gallery, the Board of the Mississippi Historical Society, the Board of Bookfriends of the University Press, and Regent of the D.A.R. Rebecca Cravat Chapter of Jackson.  She was a former  member of the Board of the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission and the Board for Christian Conciliation Service.         


            In 1974, she received the Centennial Award of Excellence from Blue Mountain College.  Mississippi College awarded her the Service to Humanity Award in 1976, an Honorary Doctorate Degree in 1978, and the Order of the Golden Arrow in 1980.

            Carroll Waller was born in McComb, Mississippi, on August 8, 1927, to the late Dr. Clayton Justice Overton and Edith Watkins Overton.  She graduated from Central High School in Jackson,  and from Mississippi College, with distinction.

            She was an instructor at Belhaven College and a sales associate at the House of Overton until devoting her full-time attention to her growing family and the political career of her husband.

            Carroll was a third generation member of First Baptist Church, Jackson.  It was there that she met her future husband. She was a member of the Hope and Joy Sunday School class for almost 60 years.  She also served as President of the Women’s Missionary Union and the Ava Burton Watkins Circle.

            She is survived by two sisters, four sons, and 14 grandchildren.  Her sisters are Joy Overton Holmes of Madison, Mississippi; and Gloria Overton Martin of Madison, Florida.  Her children and grandchildren include: Chief Justice William L. Waller, Jr., and his wife, Charlotte, of Jackson, and their three children, William L. Waller, III, M.D.,  Jeannie (Jon) Zieren, and Clayton J. Waller; Robert O. Waller and his wife, Margaret, of Jackson, and their six children, Joy Waller, Robert O. Waller, Jr., Madeline Waller, Millie Waller, Ava Burton Waller, and Maggie Waller; Edward C. Waller, and his wife, Bae, of Jackson, and their two daughters, Emma Carroll Waller and Dannie Waller; Donald E. Waller and his wife, Yonnie, of Jackson, and their three children, Anne Overton Waller, Lucy Waller, and Don Waller, Jr.

            She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, former Governor Bill Waller, her beloved daughter, Gloria Joy Waller, and her brother, Clayton Justice Overton, Jr., M.D.
         
   In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Gloria Joy Waller Scholarship Fund at Mississippi College,  P.O. Box 4005, Clinton, MS, 39058, or the web address www.alumni.mc.edu/waller_memorial.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

A lovely lady. She will be missed.

Anonymous said...

Sadly when her generation is gone so is what made this country great. I challenge everyone here to name anyone they know in our generation today who may come close to what Mrs. Waller accomplished in her lifetime. She obviously lived a very fulfilling life.

Anonymous said...

I noticed that her daughter Gloria Joy Waller died young. What was the cause of her death? Thanks!

Anonymous said...

What happened to Joy was tragic - both for her and her parents. I knew Joy in college when she was at the W in Columbus. Beautiful and sweet girl. It was a dark and private matter for her friends and family.

Anonymous said...

thank you @7:59AM..you are right. I too knew Joy through a close friend of mine that was dating her. She was indeed sweet and beautiful.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.