He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the almighty. -Psalm 91
A God fearing, kind, neighbor loving man, Dwight Barrow Jackson has been called to rest at the age of 73. He was born to Barbara Cordelia Jackson Harris and Ernest Mitchell and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He professed his faith in Christ at an early age. He was an active member of Mt. Zion Church, under the leadership of Bishop Joseph Walker III and, for a while, he also attended the Word of Life Christian Center International Church founded and led by Rev. Dr. Alexander Arthur.
Educated in the Metropolitan Nashville Public School system, he attended Pearl Elementary, Washington Junior High and Pearl High Schools. He sought higher education at Tennessee State University where, among other things, he was a drummer in the Aristocrat of Bands. He grew to be a patriotic brave Tennessean who answered the call to enlist and prepare for military service. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged after four years of service.
Upon discharge, Dwight’s people-oriented nature impelled him into car sales – a vocation in which he excelled due to his kindness and friendliness. Car sales turned out to be his passion. So, he ultimately established an auto dealership with two of his cousins, Jimmy and Wesley Johnson. Dwight met the love of his life, Zina Phillips, in 1998 and they married in 2001. From this marriage, Dwight gained three wonderful children, Eric, Inez, and Vanessa. He loved his family fiercely and vigorously. In later years, he changed professions and served with the US Community Credit Union. In 2017, Dwight was diagnosed with lung cancer and in 2019, he retired from the Credit Union where he had ultimately been promoted to branch manager.
Despite his medical diagnosis, he vowed to be one with his creator. Mindful of the hand of God in his daily affairs, Dwight actively sought to maintain and elevate his spirituality and to fulfil his desire to dwell in the secret place of the Most-High God. He embarked on a seeking venture, of knowing and asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Instead of focusing on his illness and physical ailments, Dwight turned his attention to the precious messages of the Bible. He spent an hour each day with loving family members in a commitment to devotional time with the Lord. This venture offered Dwight peace and allowed him to strengthen his relationship with God.
Dwight’s final days defied medical prediction, as his medical providers informed him in 2019 that he would be allotted only one more year of life. By the grace of God, and the strength of God given to him, Dwight travelled to St. Lucia for the marriage of his son, Eric Kwame Antonio, to Carta Robison in April 2021. In December of the same year, he walked his daughter, Vanessa Antonio, down the aisle in Mombasa, Kenya, in marriage to Bryan Kariuki. Dwight was determined and was enabled to have the ceremonial father-daughter dance with Vanessa and understood that it was by God’s grace he was able witness and participate in these events. On March 23, 2022, with his family by his side and in the arms of his beloved wife, Zina, he transitioned peacefully into the arms of the Lord.
One has never seen nor met a more compassionate, selfless, God fearing, neighbor loving person like Dwight. His transparency was remarkable, and he never met a stranger. Dwight was always ready to accommodate and to embrace anyone he met, ready to be of service with loving kindness.
Dwight leaves to cherish his memory: his loving wife, Zina Jackson, mother, Cordelia Barbara Jackson Harris, siblings (in-laws), Douglas (Martha) Merritt; James Merritt; Dennis Mitchell (Kenya); Donna (James Doc) Shelton; Paula Bussey; Thomas (Kim) Harris; cousins, Alice Epperson; Wesley (Sandra) Johnson; Leon (Marquentas) Deaderick; Thomas (Hollie) Jackson; Ronnie (Janet) Jackson; Paul (Patricia) Jackson; Wanda Phillips; children (in-laws), Tomeka (Marty) Tyus; Cherie Cohen-O’Neal; Eric (Carta) Antonio; Inez Antonio; Vanessa (Bryan) Kariuki; grandchildren, Victoria Richardson; Caleb Tyus; Chloe Tyus; and Amara Antonio; great grandchild, Skylar Richardson, and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and devoted friends! He loved and was loved!
A graveside service will be held Monday, April 4, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Nashville National Cemetery in Madison, TN.
