Jackie Hilton

Eleanor Jacqueline Byars Hilton "Jackie" 1924-2015 ROCK HILL-Eleanor Jacqueline Byars "Jackie" Hilton passed away peacefully at White Oak Manor (York) on April 15, 2015 at the ripe old age of 90. She was a devoted mother and wife, a servant to her church, a connoisseur of thrift stores, and a lifelong collector of things old and new. Jackie was born in Rock Hill on July 27, 1924, middle daughter of Lillie Mae Wisher Byars and David Madison Byars. She worked a few years with them at Arcade Cotton Mill as a spinner until serendipitously meeting her future husband-William J. "Bill" Hilton Sr.-when he visited West End Baptist Church while on weekend leave near the the end of World War II. Bill whisked Jackie away to Pittsburgh PA, where they were married at St. John's Lutheran Church (Carnegie) on August 31, 1945 and began growing their family. While Bill was at work Jackie first devoted herself to sewing and handicrafts, producing keepsakes she gifted to friends and relatives. She and Bill joined the Howdy Club and spent many happy weekends socializing and square dancing. She was a member of several civic organizations in Crafton and Brookline PA that benefitted from her enthusiastic leadership. Family life was always important to the Hiltons, who held frequent Pittsburgh-area get-togethers with grandparents, cousins, uncles, and aunts. Following the birth of their fourth child, Jackie and Bill moved the family "back home" to Rock Hill in 1961 and built one of the first houses in Bel-Aire Acres. There Jackie continued to raise her children-including a fifth one-and took up gardening and yard work with Bill, developing their four country acres into an envied showcase of the neighborhood. A strong believer in education, Jackie finished her GED after age 50. She and Bill made sure their five children finished high school and enabled four of them to graduate from Newberry College. Jackie enthusiastically supported Bill's work on the board of Bowater of Carolina Recreation Association and enjoyed attending Saturday night dances with him at Rock Hill's Elks Club. Despite her Southern Baptist upbringing, Jackie warmly embraced her husband's Lutheranism and with him became a pillar of Grace Lutheran Church (Rock Hill). She showed on-going commitment to her faith by preaching a Children's Sermon on Sunday mornings, by serving on church council, and by acting as the dynamic leader of Jubilees, the Church's group for senior members. Following Bill's death in 1984 she raised funds in his memory for a beautiful stained glass window in the main sanctuary, an act that helped rejuvenate the church and led the way to a long-needed building expansion. Jackie further showed her commitment to family by hosting and nurturing her elderly mother-in-law, Sophie Hilton, for several years and through daily visits when her own mother was bed-ridden in a nursing home. Her children have tried to follow her example and are ever-grateful for the loving and considerate attention she received at Piedmont Medical Center and Carolinas Medical Center (Charlotte) following health emergencies, and at HarborChase (Rock Hill) and White Oak Manor (York) as age and disease took its inexorable toll. Despite advancing dementia, Miss Jackie's indomitable spirit and unpredictable sense of humor inspired and entertained her thoughtful caregivers as they helped make her final years worth living-especially at White Oak. The family is likewise thankful for end-of-life services provided by Hospice & Community Care, and for continuing support from friend and neighbor Tom Reeves. As matriarch of the Hilton Clan, Jackie was predeceased by her parents, husband, and sister Clara Byars Roberts. She is survived by younger sister Nellie Mae Byars Hixson (Castle Hayne NC) and by five appreciative children who will miss her greatly: William J. "Bill" Hilton Jr. (Sue) of York and Stanley R. Hilton (Colleen) of Leesville, and daughters Cindy L. Farver (Ron) of Wadsworth OH, Patricia A. "Patti" Saunders (Larry) of Rock Hill, and Victoria A. "Vicki" Fulbright-Lutz (Andy) of Dallas NC. Her descendants include beloved grandchildren Billy Hilton III (Amanda) and Garrison Hilton, Katie Theado (Wally), James Hilton, Nick Saunders and Elizabeth Saunders, and Zachary Fulbright; plus her newest "hootie-patootie" great-grandchildren: McKinley Ballard Hilton and Hadley Reid Hilton, and Walter Charles Theado IV, Rose Elizabeth Theado, and Annie Patricia Theado. A Graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday (Apr. 19) at Grandview Memorial Park (Cherry Road, Rock Hill). The Hilton family will receive visitors at 2 p.m. Sunday (Apr. 19) at Grace Lutheran Church prior to a 3 p.m. celebration of Jackie's lengthy life, conducted by Pastor Christine Stoxen. Bass-Cauthen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be sent to Jackie Hilton ElderCare Fund,