In Memoriam: Dean Lizbeth Jackson
Lizbeth A.S. Jackson, 61, departed this life on February 27th, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her devoted husband of 37 years, Carl Jackson and her cherished mother, Zoe Estes Slinkman, whom she visited with over a glass of wine every evening after work. Additional family members include her father Harold E. Slinkman (deceased), three sisters; Susan Morrison of Queensland, Australia; Jeanette Mooney of Sheridan, Wyoming and Shari Burke of Haysville, Kansas. She was a greatly beloved aunt to eight nieces and nephews and one great niece and nephew, and was the annual planner of "Thanksmas," an event for the entire family to celebrate the holidays together. She had a host of extended family and friends, and of course the "boys," Carl and Liz's Golden Retrievers, Laurel and Hardy, whom she adored.
Liz was born in Manhattan, Kansas, the third of four Slinkman daughters. She was a proud B.S. and M.A. graduate of Kansas State University, something that inevitably came up if talk of sports arose. She was a secondary education teacher following graduation, and was a substitute teacher when stationed with Carl in Germany.
Read William & Mary Provost Michael R. Halleran's message shared with the campus community on March 2.
After following Carl's military career around the country and the world, Liz and Carl settled in Williamsburg, Virginia, twenty-seven years ago, where she began work at William & Mary Law School as a Legal Skills Program Assistant. She soon rose to the position of Registrar, became an Assistant Dean for Admission as well, and finally, spent the last seventeen years as Associate Dean for Administration, which included oversight of all student services, registration, facility maintenance, and personnel administration. She helped countless students with personal and professional challenges, and served under three different law school deans, assisting in the leadership of the law school. Every student who enrolled at the Law School over the last seventeen years was told, "If you have a problem, go see Dean Jackson." She performed her duties efficiently, discretely, and with an unwavering devotion to the students and the institution.
While working full-time, Liz earned an Education Specialist degree and an Ed.D.- ABD, both in Higher Education Administration from the College of William & Mary. She planned to retire from William & Mary in July of this year to spend more time with Carl and Zoe, and to continue her charitable activities. Liz spent many years in leadership positions at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church and was often seen serving communion on Sundays. She was a Charter Member, with her mother, Zoe, of Virginia's Chapter BJ of P.E.O. International, an organization that celebrates and supports the advancement of women through education. Liz was a Past President of Chapter BJ, and was recently selected to serve as State Secretary of P.E.O., a position that would have put her in line to ultimately serve as Virginia's P.E.O. President.
Liz loved to travel, and in recent years had been to Portugal, hiked the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, and visited China. She was training for a half-marathon in April, spent more than five years doing CrossFit at 5 a.m. three days each week, and had the climbing of Mount Kilimanjaro as the next item on her bucket list. She loved the outdoors and the beach, was creative and fun, and always relished the roles of hostess, tour guide, or cruise director. She loved life, her church and her country. She will be missed immeasurably, but her impact on those she touched will be her legacy.
A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, 215 Richmond Road, Williamsburg. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Liz's life may be made to Hospice or the Salvation Army.
About William & Mary Law School
Thomas Jefferson founded William & Mary Law School in 1779 to train leaders for the new nation. Now in its third century, America's oldest law school continues its historic mission of educating citizen lawyers who are prepared both to lead and to serve.