Jackie Judkins Sweeden

Jackie Judkins Sweeden was born on April 26, 1947, in the Bell’s Chapel community near Atkins, and passed away on November 3, 2025, at Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock. He was the oldest child of Paul and Inez Judkins Sweeden, and the oldest grandchild of Erma Lazenby Judkins, who helped his working parents to raise him and siblings Ricky (Laura), Robbie (Louise, now deceased), Nancy (Michael Blanchard), and James Paul “Jamie” Sweeden.

He graduated from Atkins High School in 1965 and had several dear friends from those days who he remembered and spoke of often. Other education included Petit Jean Vo-Tech (now UACCM), numerous automotive systems at the General Motors Training Facility in Memphis while working as a Pontiac and Cadillac Service Manager, and a sampling of college courses.

Jackie married Gracie Willcutt on July 21, 1967, and was with her until his death. Both were lifelong members of the Bell’s Chapel United Methodist Church, where his parents and her parents, Fred and Elsie Polk Willcutt, attended. Jackie and Gracie always had some home improvement, remodeling, or building project to be involved with, whether their own or for some family member. Others could be annoyed by Jackie’s perfectionism. Their children are Marshall Brian (Mary Beth) Sweeden and Jacqueline (Mark) Anderson. Of all things in life, Jackie seemed the most proud of his grandchildren: Hunter (Paxton) Anderson, Ellie (Zach) Huffine, Hannah (Jackson) Sheesley, Ivy Sweeden (Cole Moss), Charity (Chris) Moore, Chloe (Hobbs) Knowlton, and great-grandchildren: Emily Anderson, Katie Jo Anderson, Wyatt Huffine, Owen Huffine, Jayden Sheesley, Luke Sheesley, and Claira Moore.

Work included Rye Motor Company, Jack Hill Auto Parts, Dennis Lowe’s Auto Parts, Cross Auto Supply, Jimmy Parrish Farm Supply, Anderson Cleaning Service, Paulie Wenger Grocery, Atkins Pickle Company, Bill’s Daisy Queen, and others. Jackie taught Auto Mechanics for a time at the Area Vocational Career Center. While there, his students won the Plymouth Trouble Shooting Contest State Championship. He and the two highest scoring students got an expense-paid trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the students competed and Jackie helped to judge the national competition.

He was a “car guy”, and especially a Pontiac enthusiast. He enjoyed riding motorcycles with family, visiting several state parks around Arkansas for picnic lunches. He was an after-hours cattleman and hay producer. He enjoyed friendly competition, whether it was a foot race, drag racing in a 1959 Pontiac, riding bicycles, playing “horse” with a basketball, a card game of “ROOK”, or whatever. In recent years, he gained an interest in firearms, and enjoyed family trips to the “World’s Largest Gun Show” in Tulsa. The focus of all these things is what was most important to him: time spent with his family.

A memorial service for Jackie will be held at 2pm, Friday, November 7, 2025, at Russellville Family Funeral. Rev. Shane Kasper will officiate.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Russellville Family Funeral. Please visit our website, www.russellvillefamilyfuneral.com to share a memory with Jackie's family.