Elinor was the daughter of the prominent Presbyterian theologian George Junkin who since 1848 was president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. Elinor and Jackson met and became friends in her father"s home as he frequently socialized with George Junkin.
The couple were extremely close, and through Elinor"s influence Jackson"s already strong faith deepened. In October 1854 Elinor was in labor, but the outcome was not happy. She gave birth to a stillborn baby and died herself shortly thereafter due to pregnancy complications.
Jackson was devastated by grief but his faith supported him.
