Jackita Snelling

Jackita White Snelling, age 84, died peacefully on March 23 at Norton Brownsboro Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. She was an accomplished woman, wife, mother and grandmother. Jackita was born on January 6, 1939 in Murray, Kentucky to P.R. "Jack" White and Margaret (Hughes) White. She was a graduate of Murray High School in 1957 and continued her education at Murray State University where she received her BS in 1961 and MAE in 1980. She earned her Rank 1 in 1986 from Western Kentucky University. Throughout a 36 year career in education, she served students in multiple school districts with a tireless work ethic that was always on display as she worked in a variety of capacities - classroom teacher, gifted education specialist and district administrator.

Jackita was a member of Tri Sigma Sorority, a Kentucky Colonel, CASA volunteer, board member for the Chaney House for Boys and a deacon at Beargrass Christian Church. Throughout life Jackita had a positive and energetic personality, captivating smile and was known for her ability to see the best in people and thus inspire them to be their best.

Jackita was preceded in death by her parents, sister Rita Carson, spouses Richard I.Neill, Sr and David Snelling as well as her beloved English gentleman, Alan Gash.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Richard I. Neill, Jr and his wife Robyn, and Kelly Neill Haile and her husband Tommy. Additionally, she is survived by her sister Claudine "Shortie" Blakeley and her husband Ronald "Butch" Blakeley; brother-in-law Jimmy Carson; five grandsons, Michael Neill, Jackson Haile, Hampton Haile, Patrick and Samuel Neill; nieces, Terri Boggess (Joey) and Kathy Carson Starks, and nephews, Mickey Carson (Stacy) & Chris Blakeley (Katie); many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Jackita was blessed with deep and enduring friendships over the course of her lifetime; far too many to name, but each dear and priceless to her.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life gathering at Beargrass Christian Church, 4100 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, Kentucky 40207 on Saturday, April 15 at 3:00 with visitation beginning at 1:00.

Gifts given in gratitude for her life can be made to the Beargrass Christian Church Youth Group or to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

To leave a special message for the family, please use the "Share Memories" button and/or the Facebook link provided.