"Her Life's Story"

Sister Ida M. Jackson was born on May 24, 1923, in Spiro, Oklahoma, to Bervee (Smith) DeGraftenreed and Adir DeGraftenreed, a minister. She was the third daughter of four daughters from that union. Sister Ida M. Jackson, devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother passed from this life to everlasting life with her Heavenly Father on March 19, 2015.

Sister Jackson loved the Lord and spent many hours traveling to the National Baptist Congress, National Baptist Sunday School Congress and Laymen's Conventions with her husband, the late James Jackson to "study to show thyself approved". She had become a Certified Teacher in many fields from the National Baptist Convention including the duties, responsibilities and service of a Deaconess. She was a Deaconess before her husband became a Deacon. After his ordination, they were a spiritual team that would visit and pray for the sick, deliver communion, and other duties that may come their way where they could be of service. They never missed an opportunity to serve the Lord.

She married James Jackson on February 4, 1943. Three children were born by that union; Jerolyn, Jacqueline, and James, Jr. She had a child, Judith Marie Boyd, from a previous marriage who preceded her in death. All of the children were loved equally by both parents.

Sister Jackson's love of singing was unparalleled. She had an angelic soprano voice which she dedicated to the service of the Lord. She sang in the Choir at the First Baptist Church in Summit until she moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1951.

She continued her service to the Lord by singing in the choir at the Calvary Baptist Church and serving in the missionary department. In her earlier years there she was also an usher. Sister Jackson was a Sunday School Teacher when she and her husband James Jackson, Sr. moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, in August 2011.

Sister Jackson marveled at all the things God had created. She enjoyed looking at the sunset, cows in the fields, trees, butterflies and rabbits, you name it. To me, if you had seen one cow, rabbit, etc., you had seen them all. Not her. When we would be traveling, she would point them out to us, or if we were sitting on the porch, she would tell us to "look at the cows," which I had seen a thousand times. She even joined the 4 Mile Branch Agricultural Association so she could have some cows of her own. My dad would never have done that. He had had his fill of cows when he was growing up. My mother, the "city girl", became a "country girl". She also had in infectious laugh, which was more like a high pitch squeal. If you walked into a room and she was laughing, you would laugh too even though you really didn't know why.

She had a quiet gentle spirit. She didn't raise her voice when she was angry, but she could put you in your place with "gentle words of persuasion". Sometimes it would be a few moments later when the impact of what she said hit home. She believed women should act like women—no pants, no short skirts, and no revealing clothes—especially in God's house. On rare occasions when she would garden, and I do mean rare, she would put on a pair of sweats under her dress only because she wanted to remain decent. (To this day, I do not know where she got the sweat pants because I know she didn't buy them)

Sister Jackson was a quiet shy person. She wasn't a talker unless you were talking about the Lord. She was giving, honest, humble, meek, kind, and loving. The scriptures say that the meek shall inherit the earth. She should have a great inheritance. Her passing will leave a void that can never be filled.

Sister Ida M. Jackson leaves behind three children: Jerolyn (Clarence) Threats of Muskogee, Oklahoma, James (Naomi) Jackson, Jr. and Jacqueline (David) Jenson of Salt Lake City, Utah. Her husband of 67 years preceded her in death as did their daughter, Judith Marie (Boyd) Eberhart. Grand children: Dwala G. (Toombs (General), Denise M. Howard. James C. Jackson III, Dinitri Jackson, Dominique Jackson and Olivia Hamilton. Also, Christine Eberhart Ewell (Richard), Marvin Eberhart (Rachelle), Venus Eberhart, Monique Eberhart Johns (Michael) and Renita Wilson. Great grandchildren: Nathan & Kimberly Howard; Eric, Marcus & Jalen Toombs; Isaiah Otufangavalu, Ariana Johns; Michelle, Cordell & Marcus Ewell; Alexandri, Trasheina & B. J. Delaney; Chanel McBride and Shanita Wilson. Great-Great grandchild, Kayson Howard. Also Dee Dee Ford, niece and Taylor Ford, great niece as well as a host of relatives and friends.

Services for Mrs. Ida M. Jackson will Thursday March 26, 2015 at 1:00PM at First Baptist Church located at 6600 S. 54th in Summit.