Jackie Upton Obituary, Death – Jackie Lou Bridges Upton, a devoted Christian, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at her home surrounded by her family after a lengthy battle with cancer. She had been battling the disease for a number of years. Her generosity had no limits whatsoever. Her unconquerable spirit was matched by her boundless enthusiasm for life. Jackie instilled in her children the same tenacity and determination that she had for them, and her love and loyalty to them was great. She exemplified the qualities of a loyal wife in every way, but she was also a caring friend and a sensitive instructor.
On September 17, 1941, Jackie Bridges was brought into the world by her parents, Julia Bridges Eperson and Joseph Curtis Bridges, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She began her education at Smithfield High School, where she earned her diploma. She then attended Greensboro College, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in History degree. Finally, she attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she earned her Master of Education degree.
Jackie and her husband Jack were both born and raised in Smithfield, North Carolina. They started dating when they were in high school, continued their courtship while they were in college, and have been married for 58 years. They were blessed with two daughters, Brooke and Blaire, and as a family they created many wonderful memories, including time spent at their beach house in the Litchfield neighborhood of Pawleys Island, South Carolina.
Over the course of her life, Jackie was fortunate enough to share her love of traveling with her family, friends, and coworkers, an activity that she thoroughly relished. Her most memorable travel experiences include visits with her family to London and Italy, girls’ weekends in the mountains or at the beach, mission trips for storm relief, and traveling to various cities across the country to grade Advanced Placement United States History examinations. Jackie also cherished going for long walks to take in all the splendor that our world had to offer. She regarded sunsets as one of the most beautiful works of art that God had created.
Jackie spent her whole 35-year career devoted to educating young people in a variety of subjects, including history, economics, civics, English, and journalism. In 1986, she started working at Greensboro Day School (GDS) as an Advanced Placement (AP) History teacher before moving into the role of College Guidance Director. She was a tremendous role model for both her coworkers and her students, since she was always willing to share the correct way of looking at things and she did so with knowledge, kindness, and compassion. She was awarded both the Hendrix Award and the Outstanding Teacher of American History title.