The VirtualBoxwell team is sad to report the passing of James E. Akers, son of Ward E. Akers. James was on the staff at both the Rock Island Boxwell and the Old Hickory Boxwell. He was quite busy in his life after Boxwell as well. Read his full obituary here: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timesunion/obituary.aspx?n=james-eric-akers&pid=193973664&fhid=12954
On July 5, 1921 the VERY FIRST Boxwell opened in Linton, TN.
A truck picked up Scouts going to camp at the intersection of the Belle Meade and Harding Road at 10am and 4:30pm. Camp only ran for about three weeks at the time and cost less than $6 a week!
We are hoping to start a new tradition, not just here at VirtualBoxwell, but across Middle Tennessee Council by celebrating BOXWELL DAY–a day commemorating the opening of the first Boxwell.
To that end, we ask for two things from you:
1) Share this message far and wide. If you use social media, share the post. If you are looking on the website, share the link. Spread the word so that everyone knows this is a new Middle Tennessee Council holiday!
2) Take this opportunity to share your favorite Boxwell stories in the comments AND, if you are staff member, contact an old friend and reminisce about years gone by!
Thank you to all the professionals, volunteers and staff members who have worked for 100 summers to keep Boxwell alive and flourishing!
Happy Boxwell Day everyone!
Elizabeth Jackson
Two nights ago, we reported on the passing of Elizabeth Jackson. Thus, we thought this might be a good time to give a little information on here. In a period when “feminism” was either unheard of or a bit of dirty word in Scouting circles, Jackson was a program director at Boxwell.
Kathy Howard, the Murrey waterfront director, described Jackson a short and stocky, very physically fit, with short blonde hair. Well into her 30s and early 40s at the tiem, she was still a swimmer too. Vivian Connelly recalled getting to know Elizabeth well the summer she stayed at Murrey when her husband Ken was camp director at Parnell. According to Connelly, Jackson was liked by everyone, was very outgoing and very fair. She was the type of manager who ran things so smoothly, no one even realized anyone was in charge. Things just got taken care of. Jackson made it happen.
As for Elizabeth herself, we caught a bit of her on tape when interviewing Jimmy Joe Jackson in 2002. “I remember lots of things about Boy Scout camp,” she recalled. “I loved Boy Scout camp. I loved Boy Scout camp because there were not telephones down on Murrey side. There were no telephones. We had campfires at night time down there, out in the middle and all of us would come down out of tents, our four man tents and the two man tents on the side of them and talk. And we’d talk and we’d have more fun down there.”
In terms of photos, we only have one contemporary image of Jackson from her last summer at Boxwell, 1970. We posted the story three years ago. Here is the link, but the photo is reported here. Elizabeth was the blonde woman in the passenger seat.
The Human Sisters in the Boxwell Jeep with Audry Manis and Elizabeth Jackson outside the Cripple Crab, summer 1970
We learned today of the passing of Elizabeth Jackson, longtime program director at Camp Murrey (ca. 1963- ca. 1970), wife of Parnell Program Director Jimmy Joe Jackson, and mother of staff member Larry Jackson. She passed in October of 2019. The following is the obituary from the Tennessean.com.
Elizabeth Ann Wolff Jackson
NASHVILLE, TN — Age 92, Elizabeth Ann Wolff Jackson, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, entered into eternal peace on October 18, 2019 while surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her daughter, Cathy Ellen Jackson Turner and husband, Rick; granddaughter, Lacy Ann Turner Huddleston and husband, Jarrod; great-grandson, Landon Jackson Huddleston; nephew, Edward Louis Tumlin and wife, Mary Lynn; nieces, Cynthia Ann Tumlin and Victoria Jackson Bridges. She was preced¬ed in death by her husband, Coach Jimmy Joe Jackson; loving son, Larry Stewart Jackson; and sister, Eleonora Catherine Tumlin. Mrs. Jackson was born in Irvine, Kentucky on March 14, 1927 to the late Louis Edward and Lettie Stevens Wolff. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervi¬sion from Middle Tennessee State University. Mrs. Jackson worked in education for over 35 years to positively impact children’s lives. She taught at Turner Elementary School and Napier Elementary School before advancing into Administration at Cole Elementary, Donelson Elementary and Jo¬elton Middle Schools. She concluded her career in Education as a Middle School Director with Metro Nashville Public Schools. While her family and public education were her passions, Mrs. Jackson was an active member in her community. As a follower of Christ, she was a member of Wood¬bine United Methodist Church, and later attended Trinity United Methodist Church and led in many church activities. Elizabeth Ann volunteered with Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cathy’s Dance Studio and was a member of Franklin Garden Club. Family and friends will serve as Pallbearers with Mrs. Jackson’s caregivers serving as Honorary Pallbearers. Family and friends will assemble for a graveside service to be conducted on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Woodlawn Me¬morial Park (Park View section on the south side of Thompson Lane). Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, 615-331-1952.
The VirtualBoxwell Team is sad to report the passing of Shirley Higgins Kimbro. “Miss Kimbro” worked on Camp Murrey’s waterfront in the early 1970’s. She was a homemaker by occupation and remembered fondly by those who knew her from camp.
You may find her obituary here.