Jackie Rayburn

Jackie Hollie Rayburn, 69, passed peacefully with her family in her Division Street home on the morning of Sunday, November 6, 2022.

Jacqueline Debra Hollie was a southern belle, evident in her beauty pageant crowns and Tennessee twang, but also in her hospitality, charm, and grace. She was born at home in Hornbeak, TN, the third and youngest child of RB and Imogene Hollie, and raised in Union City, TN with her brother (the late) Larry Hollie and her sister Dianne Thomason. She is survived by the love of her life, her soulmate of 47 years, whom she wed on May 3, 1975, Jim Rayburn, their three daughters, Jamie (husband Andy) Pruitt, Jessica (Kevin) Dyer, and Jennifer (Mike) Soderlind. Perhaps her proudest title, she was “Nana” to nine grandchildren – Adam, Lucas, Eli Jackson, and Henry Dyer, Chloe Jaclyn, Ryan, and Paige Pruitt, and Knox and Hollie Soderlind. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, with whom she had a special relationship: Kim Fulcher, Mike and Mark King and their families. Jackie’s sweet puppy, Scout, continues to bark hello to all who pass by Nana’s favorite place on Earth – her front porch.

Jackie graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1975, a proud President of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, with her Bachelor of Science in Education. She went on to earn her Master of Education degree from the University of Illinois in 1996.

Mrs. Rayburn poured her heart and soul into teaching others, specifically Jr. High math and science in the Rantoul (1 year), Tolono (7 years), and Mahomet-Seymour (28 years) schools, for over 36 years. She carried that passion into many dining room study sessions with her grands and continued to be a devout member of the “Sub-List” for MSJH until May 2022.

Jackie spent her favorite days soaking up the sun and walking the beach with her best friends, shopping for treasures at antique markets and garage sales, gardening the most beautiful flowers on D-Street, playing cards with lifelong buds, cheering for her Bulldogs in the bleachers of every sporting event, and reading a good “TK” book in her egg chair.

Mama was a best friend to her daughters, favorite teacher to countless students, life partner and list-maker extraordinaire to Jimbo, biggest cheerleader of her grands, and she had a smile and light within her that rivaled the sunshine itself. She will be missed as fiercely as she was loved.

Special appreciation to her dear friends who supported her family every step of the way, and deepest gratitude to Dr. David K. Webb and Dr. Kendrith Rowland Jr., who gave us the best gift - cherished time. Jackie’s greatest joy in life was her family.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jackie’s honor to the “Rayburn Family Scholarship” through Busey Bank. The scholarship will be awarded annually to a graduating Mahomet-Seymour senior who plans to study education/science education.

Join us to celebrate Jackie’s life on Sunday November 20, 2022 from 1-4pm at the Mahomet-Seymour Jr. High gymnasium (201 W. State St. Mahomet, IL 61853). We hope y’all are fixin’ to dry up those tears and that you’ll come sit a spell with us to remember and honor her beautiful soul.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jackie Rayburn, please visit our floral store.