Mrs. Nellie "Nell" Jackson Arick Obituary (1934

“There is no nobler heart than one that is moved by the needs of others.” Nellie (Nell) Ruth Jackson Arick entered eternal rest on August 28, 2024, ending a long and arduous journey with Alzheimer’s. Nellie (Nell) Ruth Jackson Arick was born April 28, 1934, in Monroe County, Mississippi during the height of the Great Depression to Icey Belle Best and Hollis Jasper Jackson. She was the second eldest of 10 children. She married Roy James Arick, Sr. in 1950 and they lived in the Pheba community of Clay County, Mississippi briefly, before moving to West Point, Mississippi, where she lived fully and happily for the remainder of her life. She was a devoted wife and mother of three children. Mrs. Nell led an honorable life of integrity and obedience to her calling of helping others. She had a servant’s heart and a gift for nurturing young children and the elderly. She helped raise her nine siblings and loved her nursing work at Dugan Home, attending to the elders for 27 years. In retirement, she was a highly sought after private-duty sitter. In addition, she volunteered her time and attention to her fellow senior friends, especially the homebound, providing assistance for as long as she was able. Mrs. Nell was truly a people person. Her quick wit and jovial sense of humor endeared her to all. She was a good communicator and listener who could hold her own in any setting. Warm-hearted, protective and loving, she was a mother figure to many, a faithful friend and loyal to her church and community. She was a woman of deep faith who enjoyed bible study, attending church services and gospel singings. God blessed her with varied talents. She wrote beautiful poetry, liked to quilt, paint and draw, and was skillful at working jigsaw puzzles and word games. She enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends; dearly loved all her pets over the years and Elvis was her favorite singer. She was an excellent home cook who delighted in preparing from-scratch meals for friends and family, especially her children, grandchildren and their friends. Everyone was welcome at her table and there was always room for one more. The countless lives she touched during her lifetime through her compassionate care, encouragement and joyful personality are immeasurable. She was predeceased by her parents, husband, one grandson, Jonathan Paradisi, seven brothers and sisters, and beloved brother and sister-in-law, Everett and Annie Laura McCluskey Arick, (who raised Mr. Roy, Sr.) and special nephew, Joe Larry Arick. Visitation will be Sunday, September 1, 2024, from 12:00-2:00 P.M. at Calvert Funeral Home in West Point. Funeral Services will follow at 2:00 P.M. from Calvert Funeral Home Chapel with her son, Roy James Arick, Jr. officiating and assisted by Dr. James Towery. Burial will follow in Pheba Cemetery in Pheba. Calvert Funeral Home of West Point is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements. She leaves to cherish her memory: two daughters, Linda Arick of Nashville, Tennessee and Jimmie Lou Arick (Jim) Paradisi of Atglen, Pennsylvania, and one son, Roy James Arick, Jr. of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Five grandchildren: Stephen Taylor (Courtney), Phillip Taylor, Andy Arick (Hannah), Scott Arick and Allie Arick Bell (Joey) and four adorable great-grandchildren: Grace and Griffin Taylor, and Wilder and Avett Arick; one brother, Claude Jackson and one sister, Margaret Harris. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 or Sally Kate Winters Family Services, P. O. Box 1233, West Point, Mississippi 39773. Pallbearers will be Phillip Taylor, Stephen Taylor, Doug Arick, Arick Jolly, Andy Arick, Scott Arick, and Joey Bell. The family wishes to acknowledge and express their heartfelt gratitude to the Staff of Dugan Home, the late Dr. Edmund Miller and his son, Dr. Ned Miller, Sanctuary Hospice and all their Mother’s wonderful caregivers over the last eight years.