John Jackson Sr.

Published 12:00 am Friday, December 5, 2008

NATCHEZ — Services for John Henry Jackson Sr., 85, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at New Beginnings Baptist Church, on St. Catherine Street, with the Rev. Leroy White officiating.
Burial will follow at the Leesdale Cemetery under the direction of Robert D. Mackel & Sons Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.
Deacon John Henry Jackson Jr. was born Jan. 19, 1923, in Franklin County, the son of Henry and Lucy Jackson. On Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008, God plucked a flower from His garden, for as the apostle Paul said, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
He accepted his Lord as his personal savior and joined the St. Peter Rock No. 1 Baptist Church in July 1958, under the leadership of the late Rev. Ethan Rome. His life became a light for all men to see in his strive for perfection. He was crowned Deacon Jackson and remained faithful to St. Peter Rock throughout its transformation to higher ground as the New Beginnings Missionary Baptist Church. Deacon Jackson loved God and understood how to help make men stronger, working for the Lord. His idea became a reality as he organized and became the first president of the Deacon’s Progressive Club where he remained an active mentor to those who served under him.
He married the young and beautiful girl of his dreams, Ruby Lee Woodley. They vowed to never let go as they remained in love for 65 wonderful years. From their love and admiration for each other, nine beautiful children were born, John Jr., Walter, Helen, Arthur Craig, Leonard, Shelia, Larenza, Thomas and Dwayne.
Mr. Jackson received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army on May 18, 1944. He was employed by the Mississippi State Highway Department for 21 years and retired Feb. 1, 1988.
Mr. Jackson loved children and wanted them to strive to be the best the could be. He organized, founded and coached the East End Baseball Team, which former players still remember.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers; and eight sisters.
Survivors include his loving and devoted wife, Ruby W. Jackson; nine children, John Jr. and wife, Ida, both of Mobile, Ala., Helen and husband, Clarence, both of Raleigh, N.C., Leonard and wife, Deborah, both of Roxie, Arthur Craig, Shelia Hickingbottom and husband, Tyrone, Larenza Jones and husband, Henry, Walter and wife, Della, all of Natchez, Thomas and wife, Stephanie, both of Baton Rouge, and Dwayne of Dallas; one sister, Louise “Granny” Lindsey of Des Moines, Iowa; 22 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Juanita Cade of Los Angeles and Althea Woodley of Big Rapids, Mich.; a devoted cousin, Jim Hockett Jr.; five nephews, Robert L. Jackson and Will Jackson Jr., both of Buffalo, N.Y., Willie Alvin Martin of Sacramento, Calif., LeRoy Jackson and George Lindsey, both of Natchez; one niece, Mary L. McGruder of Des Moines; and other relatives and friends.