Miss Jacqueline “Jackie” Lea Terrell passed away at her home in Bartow on Sunday Dec. 23, 2012.

Miss Terrell was born in Tampa on
March 8, 1934.

After graduating from Tampa Plant High School, Miss Terrell began a career with GTE that lasted for over 25 years. While at GTE, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Education from USF and began her second career, as an elementary school teacher in Polk County. She taught at Spook Hill Elementary, Bartow Elementary Academy and Davenport Elementary.

Miss Terrell loved teaching children and she was considered an outstanding teacher by her former principals. While teaching, she also earned a master’s degree from Nova University.

After retiring from the Polk County School Board, Miss Terrell worked for several years as a toll booth attendant with the Polk Parkway.

Miss Terrell was a Baptist. In her younger years, she was very active in the First Baptist Church of Tampa. She enjoyed light houses, boating, sports cars, and Tampa Bay sports teams.

She was predeceased by her parents, Edward and Minnie Terrell.

Miss Terrell is survived by her cousins, Ray Harris of Atlanta and Jackie Freeman of Tampa, and her long-time best friend, Ruth Johnson of Bartow.

A graveside services is Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Sunset Memory Gardens Cemetery in Tampa.

In lieu of flowers, Miss Terrell has requested that donations be made to the Humane Society or the SPCA of Polk County.