Mrs. Jacquelyn Stone Cress affectionately known as "Jackie" was born October 12, 1947, in Tampa, Florida. Jacquelyn accepted Christ at a young age while attending the 29th Street Church of Christ. She graduated from Middleton High School in 1965. After graduation, she attended Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) earning a Bachelor's Degree (BS) in Education. Jacquelyn began a lifelong career in Education serving as a Public School Teacher at West Tampa Junior High. Jackie eventually relocated to New Brunswick, New Jersey and earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration (MPA) and a Master's Degree in Library Science (MLS) from New York University. She worked for many years as the Head Librarian at Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey. Jackie was recruited and employed by Hillsborough Community College (HCC) to serve as Head Librarian at the Dale Mabry Campus.

Jacquelyn was well known and loved by many throughout the Tampa Bay, New York and New Jersey area. Jacquelyn's favorite pastime was reading, listening to Gospel Music, Mass Choir music and enjoying fine cuisine. She would light up the room wherever she was and was quite a conversationalist. Jacquelyn believed that a librarian should encourage students to have a passion for research and learning because it empowers them to become independent, critical thinkers, capable of finding and evaluating information effectively, which is crucial for academic success, lifelong learning, and navigating the complexities of the modern world. As a proud and dedicated educator for many years, her lifelong commitment to providing high quality education for all students created better opportunities for current and future generations.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell K. Cress; father, Charles D. Stone; uncle Melvin J. Stone; aunt, Rolelia S. Moore; grandparents, Charles and Pearl Stone, Ed and Eliza Williams; and great aunt, Abie L. B. Clark (Tee Tee).

She leaves to cherish her memories, mother, Mildred W. Stone; sisters, Carolyn Stone Holifield (Bishop), and Michelle Stone; brothers, James D. Stone, Melvin M. Stone (Pamela), and Michael B. Stone; nieces and nephews, Toni Guthrie (Peter), Melva Stone, Kyrstin Stone, Cynthia Cohen (Dennis), Abigail Guthrie, Rekayla Nelson, Dekoda Hicks, LeKai Koonce, Derick Hicks, Jr., Pete Guthrie, Jr., Isaac Guthrie, Eli Guthrie and Hannah Guthrie; cousins, Elizabeth Jackson, Antenette S. Glover (Michael), Miriam Miller. Loving thanks to her life - long "Sister Friend" and BFF Cookie Arenas who went above and beyond and remained a loving and caring friend. Special thanks to Mrs. Anita Pierce-Jordan and Ms. B.B. Brown for providing excellent and professional caregiver services. Special and loving thanks to Dori Bradford and a host of relatives and friends that have loved, supported and cherished her over the years. There are just too many to name and we would not want to omit anyone. Although she will be greatly missed, she was too well-loved to ever be forgotten.