Jesse James Jackson

Jess Jackson went home to be with the Lord on August 25, 2016. He was born Jesse James Jackson on November 30th, 1926 to Felix Owen Jackson and Effie Lee Hendricks Jackson in Westminister, Collin County. Jess was the eighth child in the family with five brothers and five sisters. He grew up in various places in North Texas and Southern Oklahoma. Jess attended high school in Floydada and Petersburg.

Jess went into the Army in April of 1945 and served in the South Pacific and Japan, obtaining the rank of Sergeant. After an honorable discharge in August of 1946, Jess attended college at John Tarleton Academy and East Texas State Teachers College. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science and a Smith Hughes Degree in Vocational Agriculture.

Jess married Juanita Ann Abbot on September 4, 1948, and they had three children: Juanita June, Jesse James, Jr. and John Larkin. After teaching and sales position, he went to work with USDA Soil Conservation Service as a Soil Conservationist. Jess transferred to Coleman in January of 1967, where he worked unil retiring in 1985. After retirement, he worked on the farm where they lived near Silver Valley.

Jess was a Deacon in the First Baptist Church and taught Sunday School Class for 23 years. He was a lifetime Mason and served as Worshipful Master and Deputy Grand Master. He held a certificate for 20 years.

Survivors include his wife, Juanita Jackson of Houston; one daughter, June Verrett and her husband, Vince, of Houston; two sons, Jesse Jackson, Jr. and wife, Kimberly, of Fort Worth, John Larkin Jackson and wife, Phyllis, of Livermore, California; one brother, Jackie Wayne Jackson of Richardson; one sister, Jo Hudgins of Fort Worth; 10 grandchildren, Michelle and Kevin Larson, Brian Lee and Kaylin Verrett, Trevor Lark and Mary Kate Jackson, Carmille Jackson, Jill Marie Jackson, Olivia Jackson, Heath Owen Jackson, Katrina Jackson, Nick Jackson, Laura Jackson; five great grandchildren, Lane, Luke and Daya Larson and Mason and Layla Verette as well as many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Jesse was preceded in death by four brothers, E.O. Jackson, Douglas R. Jackson, Tracy Lee Jackson, Owen Jackson; two sisters, Marie Pierce and Joyce Futch.

Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 29, 2016 at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 West Pecan Street, Coleman. Committal service with Military Honors will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, August 29, 2016 at Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene, 7457 West Lake Road, Abilene. Services are under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.

Condolences for the family may be left at www.livingmemorials.com.