Published: El Dorado NEWS-TIMES 11/18/2009
John A. (Jack) Ponsford Jr., 55, of Mountain Brook, Ala., passed away Nov. 17, 2009, following a valiant fight against cancer.
He was born in Galveston, Texas on March 22, 1954, and grew up in El Paso, Texas.
Survivors include his wife, Caroline, and his children, Emily Davenport, Julie and Jared Ellis. He has one grandchild, Olivia Ellis. His parents are Dr. and Mrs. John A. Ponsford of El Paso.
Other family members are a brother, Dr. Richard G. Ponsford and family of El Paso; sister, Leigh Sessions and family of San Antonio, Texas; Dodie Vestal of El Dorado; and John and Jenny Vestal of Dallas.
Jack attended Coronado High School in El Paso, Texas where he was inducted into their Football Hall of Fame. He graduated from Southern Methodist University and was president of his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. Jack was president and CEO of First National Bank of Scottsboro, Ala. before joining Nexity Bank of Birmingham, Ala. While in Scottsboro, Jack served his community as chairman of the Industrial Board, president of the Country Club, Rotary member, and Vestry of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Scottsboro.
Jack was very well-respected throughout the banking community. He served as president of the Alabama Bankers Association, chairman of the Alabama Banking School, and was asked to teach at the LSU Graduate Banking School. Jack was loved by those he touched with always an open heart.
