Jackie Banes

Jackie Banes, 83, was born in Meridian on June 3, 1933 and died on Saturday, November 26, 2016. She was a former state of Mississippi employee and senior teacher's aide.

She was preceded in death by her father, Jackson ''Jack'' Littleton Crabtree; her mother, Eula Estelle Crabtree; and her brother, Fealdon B. Crabtree and sister in law, Norma Lee Crabtree.

Jackie was raised by a father who worked hard for the railroad and a mother who dreamed of Hollywood. So, at the age of 5, her mother took her out to California to try-out for the role of ''Bonnie Blue'' in the famed motion picture, ''Gone with the Wind.'' Though she didn't get the part, Jackie would return to Meridian perpetually and profoundly star struck. This would serve her well years later, as she became an active member of the Meridian Little Theatre, performing in numerous productions including ''Man of La Mancha,'' ''Side by Side by Sondheim,'' and notably, ''Bloody Mary'' in the famous musical, ''South Pacific.'' However, her pinnacle performance was the role of Mother Superior in two productions of the musical comedy, ''Nunsense.'' Her solo of ''Turn Up the Spotlight'' charmed the audience and to people who knew and loved her, it was simply a musical pronouncement of Jackie's own delightful spirit.

Her artistic talents weren't relegated to the stage. Jackie loved to paint, sketch, scrapbook, cook and craft. Her many works were displayed at art shows and the local art museum. When she started her own party entertainment business, many children's faces became displays of her unique and playful style with paint and brush.

Jackie never did go back to Hollywood but she did manage to travel a bit; to Lexington, Kentucky, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Reno and Lake Tahoe, Kansas City, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Florida and the Gulf Coast. Her photo albums and keepsake scrapbooks are bursting with memories, good times and her own journal entries populated with lots of exclamation points. She treasured those times with her family and friends and wanted every moment documented. Her daughters are pleased to carry on this tradition.

In her younger years, friends may remember her driving around town a black '49 Plymouth she named ''Jenny'' that remained faithful to her for almost four decades, squeaky brakes and all.

In her later years, she was lovingly called ''Mama Hay'' by her daughters, grandchildren and the numerous children she entertained and to whom she read many an animated story.

To her family, who so love and miss her, her own life story was as lively and colorful as any movie she hoped to star in.

She is survived by her three daughters, Karen, Kerry, Christie and Numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be Saturday, May 20, 2017 from 2-4 PM at James F. Webb Funeral Home.

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