Former Jay mayor dies, remembered for wanting to help

The community of Jay is mourning the death of former Mayor Jacqlyn Barraud Stewart Ard, 73, who died Sunday, Dec. 1, after a brief illness.

Mayor of Jay from 2002 to 2006, Ard won her election over 35-year incumbent J.D. Bray, with 110 to 82 total votes.

"Mom grew up in Santa Rosa, Calif., and when she graduated, she moved to San Francisco," said Ard's daughter, Dr. Marian Stewart-Griffin. "While living there, she met my dad, Haywood Stewart, at the Army base."

The two married in 1966, and lived in Jay during the 60s. Griffin said the couple moved all over the state of Florida. They lived in Jay until 1973, then moved back to Santa Rosa, Calif., where her mother worked at city hall.

"Dad got his college degree and they moved back to Jay in 1976," said Griffin. "That's when Mom worked at the Contained Corp in Brewton."

When Stewart died, Ard ran for mayor of Jay. Griffin said her father was the one who encouraged her mother, who said she wanted to be in politics. That's when she ran against Bray for the office of mayor.

"Just the two of them ran in 2002, and she won," said Griffin. "During that time, Hurricane Ivan hit, in 2004, and she went door-to-door to check on people in the town, telling them to be safe."

Griffin said her mother was involved heavily in Take Stock in Children a program in Santa Rosa County that helps students pay for college.

"They get ton of applicants, and if they do well in high school, then Take Stock In Children helps them pay for college," said Griffin. "Mom always had a kid to mentor and she loved that program, that was the thing. She loved mentoring kids to get them to go to college. She took part in the program for about six or eight years.

"She was very involved in the community all the time," said Griffin. "She made sure all the services for Jay during Ivan were available. We got water and meals ready to eat (MREs), especially when the town was without power for two weeks. We are a small town, and she really went to bat for the town she loved. She inspired a lot of new people to run for council."

Her mother married Jay resident Oakland Ard, who had run against Bray for mayor in the past and the two went to many political events together. Griffin said Jackie appealed to political figures like State Rep. Mike Hill and Santa Rosa County Commissioner Don Salter to keep the town of Jay in the forefront.

Griffin said her aunt Marian Jump stayed for two weeks to help take care of Jackie following open heart bypass surgery Aug. 30 of this year.

"She developed chest pain and we found out her bypasses were failing," said Griffin. "They transferred her to University of Alabama Birmingham and thought they could stent her heart. We got up there, and they found heart disease that was unknown."

Griffin said her mom suffered a heart attack Nov. 30, and she died last Sunday, Dec. 1.

"She was happy, and smiling at UAB," said Griffin.

Griffin said that many people who knew her mother have commented on how nice and sweet a person she was, but Griffin said she had a toughness she could call up when necessary.

"She could be tough when she needed to, but she was so kind," said Griffin. "She kept my sister and me in line, and when she gave that evil look, we knew to behave."

Interim Town Clerk Donna Bullock knew Ard and was familiar with her run as mayor.

"When the emergency storm center was open, Jackie made sure the town of Jay was represented," said Bullock. "It was important to her."

Bullock spoke with former Jay Town Clerk Linda Carden, who worked with Ard when she was mayor. "Linda said it was really important to Jackie in representing Jay to help facilitate needs for its residents. She loved Jay and wanted to best for Jay."

Bullock said when the town was redoing a gasoline on Florida Avenue with Jay hospital, Ard donated some land when a 2-inch gas line needed to be moved.

"Jackie donated the land to ease the situation," said Bullock. "She knew it would help facilitate the installation of that gasoline. She always stayed very involved, conscientious of anything and everything to do with the town she loved. She was a soft-spoken, kind person."

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, at Jay First Baptist Church. Burial will be held at Cora Cemetery with Trahan Family Funeral Home in Milton directing.

Mrs. Ard is survived by two daughters, Marian and Juliette; two brothers, Bruce Barraud and Mark Barraud; one sister, Marian Barraud.

Mrs. Ard was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick and Pattie Gerber; and her husbands, Haywood Stewart and Oakland Ard.