About Jackie Lou Foundation

Our foundation, established in honor of two resilient women, Jackie Evans Henson and Lou Patton Williams, celebrates their unwavering faith, strength, and commitment to family. 

Jackie Evans Henson was a woman whose life was defined not by the hardships she endured, but by the hope she gave to others. Born into a world of instability, Jackie spent her childhood in an orphanage and multiple foster homes, separated from her younger brother and surrounded by the pain of a broken family. But even as a young girl, she carried a quiet strength—a spark that would one day become a guiding light for many.

Despite the emotional toll of her early years and her long-term battle with depression, Jackie chose love. She chose joy. She chose to rise.

In her early adulthood, Jackie found joy in the arts. She became a cosmetologist, a lover of fashion, and a gifted painter who expressed her soul through color and creativity. But it was in building a home that Jackie truly found her calling. She married the love of her life and raised three beautiful children—each a reflection of her heart, her strength, and her unshakable love.

She became a foster parent, offering stability, kindness, and unconditional love to children who, like her, needed someone to believe in them. She knew what it meant to feel lost, and she made it her mission to make others feel found.

Though she is no longer with us, Jackie’s story did not end. It lives on through the lives she touched, the children she raised, and now—through this foundation built in her honor.

Jackie taught us that where there is love, there is healing. Where there is hope, there is strength. And where there is one person willing to show up and care, there is a future being rewritten.

This is Jackie’s legacy. And through this foundation, her love continues to change lives.

Lula “Lou” Patton Williams was a remarkable woman whose life reflected unwavering faith, resilience, and a deep compassion for others. A devoted woman of God, Lou worked tirelessly in factories and hospitals to provide for her four children as a single mother. She stood boldly on the front lines for women’s rights, championing fair pay and dignity in the workplace. Later in life, she served as a caregiver at the local hospital, where her nurturing spirit touched countless lives.

Lou had a special place in her heart for the elderly. In her final years, she became a passionate voice for underserved seniors, urging everyone around her to step up and care for those often forgotten. She believed no one should age alone or without support, and she lived that belief daily through acts of kindness and advocacy.

Despite living on a fixed income, Lou made sure her friends and neighbors had food, and she took great pride in preparing lunches for children who would have otherwise gone without. She loved antique cars, dogs, and tending to her garden, but her greatest joy came from time spent with her children and grandchildren.

This nonprofit was created to honor Lou’s enduring legacy of love, service, and advocacy—especially for seniors and those most in need.