Extracted from The Ruston Daily Leader (Ruston, LA)
Thursday, July 31, 1986

Prominent Jonesboro attorney dies Wednesday

Prominent Jonesboro attorney William Jackson Emmons, 58, died Wednesday at Lincoln General Hospital in Ruston.

Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Southern Funeral Home chapel in Jonesboro, with the Rev. Douglas McGuire officiating. Burial will be in Transport Cemetery in Dodson.

Emmons had a legal practice in Jonesboro for many years. A native of Dodson, he graduated from Dodson High School, Louisiana Tech University and the Louisiana State University Law School.

Upon graduation from Law School, he served as assistant district attorney in the 2nd Judicial District for about eight years before turning to private practice.

During his career, Emmons served in several professional and community organizations. He was a member of the Jackson Parish, Louisiana State and American Bar associations, serving as a member of the House of Delegates of the state Bar Association. He was also a member of the American Judicature Society.

He belonged to the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, the Jonesboro Masonic Lodge #280 and the Kiwanis Club, where he served as president and Lt. Gov. In addition, he had been a post commander for the American Legion and chapter chairman for the March of Dimes fund.

Emmons was the brother of Ruston civic leader Morelle Emmons and Mrs. Hiram C. Pyburn of Ruston. A niece, Mrs. James D. Green, is also a resident of Ruston.

Other survivors include a sister, Mrs. James D. Bickley of Bastrop; nieces, Mrs. James Logan of Colorado Springs, Co., Mrs. Warren Matthews of Milwalkee [sic Milwaukee], Wi.; and one nephew, James D. Bickly of Baton Rouge.

Family members have requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Methodist Children's Home in Ruston or the American Heart Association.