Jacky Whigham

Jacky Whigham, fierce Southern steel, died peacefully at age 78, on March 31, 2025, surrounded by her dogs and family.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1947, she grew up in tough conditions-often without enough food, shelter, or safety. But she had a sharp mind, a strong will, and deep determination. She carried those traits through her entire life.

At 21, she had her son Marty, who remained the center of her world. In 1974, she met her husband Charles, and they married in 1976. That same year, Jacky got sober-and stayed that way for nearly fifty years. Recovery became her mission. She helped people in crisis, showed up where she was needed, and believed that no one was ever beyond hope.

She and Charles built a life that spanned Georgia, Washington, DC, California, Germany, and Virginia. While raising their children overseas, Jacky worked as a drug and alcohol counselor, taught German (despite not speaking it fluently), and volunteered across school communities. In 1981, she gave birth to her daughter Jennifer.

In 1993, back in Virginia, Jacky pursued a lifelong dream: going to college. After earning her degree, she became a magistrate for the Commonwealth of Virginia, serving over 20 years. She brought fairness, clarity, and zero tolerance for nonsense to the role. You could catch her smoking outside her office, giving tough advice and a kind ear.

She found community and spiritual grounding at Gravel Run Church, where she lived out her faith with action and compassion. She believed in a Christ of justice, welcome, and care-never exclusion or showmanship.

If you knew Jacky, you knew her constants: black coffee, Coca-Cola in bottles, Benson & Hedges Golds, chili dogs, Braves baseball, and dogs-always dogs. She had many over the years and loved each one with her whole heart.

She was a reader, a writer, and a steady advocate. She made people feel seen. She didn't judge, but she didn't sugarcoat either. She loved the misfits of the world. She felt like she was one herself. She never believed how loved she was.

Jacky was preceded in death by her son, Marty; husband, Charles; parents, Louise and Donald; brother, Jerry; best friend, Tory; and many beloved dogs. She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer; and son-in-law, Chris; her sister, Anne; and brother-in-law, Jerry; dogs, Benji and Bernie; sister-in-law, Jaunita; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to her chosen family: Nita Tucker, Stacey Arehart, Jenny Smith, Mike Yates, Pastor Larry Brown, Abbey Vargo and family, John and Chor Campbell, Krystle Bray, Steve and Julie Groat, Shayla Nelson, Roosevelt Harris, Sandra Callis, and her hospice nurse Amanda, at Trinity. She would've wanted to mention all of you by name and would be sorry she couldn't.

The family will receive friends on Friday, April 11, 2025, from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM, at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. A funeral service will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 11:00 AM, at Gravel Run Baptist Church, in Dinwiddie. Interment will be private.

Instead of flowers, please consider donating pet supplies to the Colonial Heights Vet Hospital (https://chvhcares.com/) or Petersburg Animal Control (https://tinyurl.com/petersburganimalcontrol).