Jackie Payne Skipper

Jackie “Jack” Payne Skipper, 85, of Athens passed away Thursday, October 29, 2020, at home. Jackie was born in Brooksville, Florida, to James Vernon Skipper, Sr. and Mary Bernice Skipper on December 6, 1934. Jack is survived by his son, Brian Allen Skipper (Sherri) of Athens, and daughter, Patrice Skipper Sanders (Forrest) of Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers James Vernon Skipper, Jr. and Jerry Skipper; and sisters Joyce Pollock and Juanita Graf. Jack was a 1953 graduate of Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Florida and attended University of Tampa before joining the Army in 1955. He made his way to north Alabama by way of North Carolina, after working for the state and starting his own blue printing company, and then Birmingham, Alabama where he worked for Rust Engineering. It was when he moved the family to Huntsville, Alabama and started working at Top of Alabama Region Council of Governments (TARCOG) that he began serving the City of Athens. While at TARCOG Jack was instrumental in establishing Athens’ own planning department and was hired as the city’s first City Planner - Director of Planning in 1978, a position he held until retirement in 1999. Upon his retirement, Jack became a very dedicated member of the Athens Lions Club and served as the Athens Lions Sight Chairman for several years. He worked tirelessly throughout each summer maintaining and operating the roller coaster for the Athens Lions annual Kiddie Carnival. Jack was a past Board member and Lion of the Year recipient of the Athens club. On April 28, 2018, Jack received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award at the Alabama Lions State Convention. The award, named for the founder of Lions Clubs International, is the Lions Clubs International Foundation’s highest form of recognition to acknowledge an individual’s dedication to humanitarian service. In addition to his service with the Lions Club, Jack also volunteered with the Alabama Veterans Museum in Athens, where he served on the board and was a member of First Baptist Church. A family service will be held at Limestone Memorial Gardens. A celebration of life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alabama Veterans Museum in Athens, Alabama, and the Lions Club of Athens, Alabama.

Jackie Payne Skipper

December 6, 1934 - October 29, 2020