Dr. John M Jackson died Sunday night, March 1 after a brief stay at Mitchell-Hollingsworth while receiving care from Hospice of North Alabama. John had been a resident of Brookdale of Muscle Shoals Assistant Living facility for the preceding two years. He and his wife Shirley were previously residents of Florence.
Dr. Jackson spent his childhood in eastern Arkansas near Tyronza on the family farm. He later graduated with both a bachelors and master’s degree in agronomy from the University of Arkansas. His studies continued at the University of Nebraska.
John married Shirley Harris on January 29, 1950. Shirley died on January 28, 2019. They are survived by four children, Don Jackson (Viodelda), Lynn Peterson (the late Kevin), Sally Franks (Scott), and Scott Jackson (Susan) as well as 9 grandchildren, John Franks (Ashley), Curtis Franks (Lydia), Lindsay Peterson Borst, Erik Peterson, Robert Jackson, David Jackson, Anna Jackson, Alex Jackson, and Emily Jackson. He also leaves 9 great-grandchildren.
John discontinued his work in agronomy to enter the ministry. He and his family moved to Cropper, Kentucky to serve Cropper Christian Church while attending Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington. His career in the ministry included serving Bloomfield Christian Church, Bloomfield, Kentucky, Parkhill Christian Church, North Little Rock, Arkansas, and First Christian Church, Huntsville, Alabama. He was loved by and loved the people in his churches and the communities in each place he lived.
John was a community servant and was involved in many civic organizations and supportive agencies including hospital chaplaincies, hospital ethics committees, and mental health and counseling services. John’s services were ongoing as he sought to provide excellence and up to date ministry to those in need. His continuing education culminated in his acquiring the Doctor of Ministry from Vanderbilt University.
Professionally, Dr. Jackson served in leadership rolls on many committees of the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, including President of the Huntsville Ministers Association, President of Huntsville Interfaith Mission Service, President and Moderator of the Christian Churches of Alabama/NW Florida.
Upon retirement, Dr. Jackson became very involved in many civic organizations. He was chaplain of the Florence City Council, a member of the Exchange Club of Florence, President of the Florence Men’s Garden Club, and active member of the YMCA of the Shoals where he held nearly daily court around the “Round Table” for over 30 years, and was a long-time member of the Florence First Christian Church choir.
John was well known as an avid and skilled gardener. His knowledge of plants enabled him to become something of a legend for his breathtaking yard and gardens at their Bower Drive home. He could cross breed daylilies and grow unique and rare species. Their yard was regularly on the annual Florence Home and Garden Tour.
Memorial Services will be held at First Christian Church, Florence at 11:00 Saturday March 7, preceded by visitation at 10:00. Interment will follow at Greenview Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Robert Jackson, David Jackson, Alex Jackson, Erik Peterson, Lindsay Borst, Emily Jackson, Anna Jackson, John Franks and Julian Franks. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jim McClean and Bob Stegall.
In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the YMCA of the Shoals.
