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Luther Jackson Obituary
After a stint at IBM in Armonk and a Russell Sage Fellowship at Rutgers University, Luther moved on to the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism where he served as professor, mentor, confidant and friend to hundreds of young journalists until his retirement in 1992. He was the school's first African-American professor. Born in Chicago on March 7, 1925, he graduated from Virginia State University in 1949 and attended Black Mountain College in North Carolina before graduating from Columbia's School of Journalism in 1951. Luther served as a United States Marine Corps sergeant in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; he married Nettie Lee of Petersburg in 1952.
A community activist wherever he lived, Luther followed closely in the footsteps of his parents: Luther Porter Jackson, head of the History Department at Virginia State, and Johnnella Frazer Jackson, assistant professor of music at Virginia State and organist at the Gillfield Baptist Church of Petersburg. Both his parents were civil rights activists.
A life member of the NAACP and a leader in the New York chapter of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, Luther also researched and wrote about historical black towns in the U.S. including Boley, Okla., and Mound Bayou, Miss. He also shared with everyone his passions for education, history, community service, social justice, integrity and jazz (especially Duke Ellington).
He is survived by his wife, Nettie; son Luther III; daughter-in-law, Cecilia Deck; grandsons, Alexander Lee and Martin Lee of San Jose, Calif.; brothers, Edward of Passaic, N.J., and John Tevis of New York City; several other beloved relatives; a host of friends and colleagues. His parents, sister, Laura Frances, and son, Lee Frazer, predeceased him.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg.
Viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at the funeral establishment.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Virginia State University, Office of Development, P.O. Box 9027, Petersburg, VA 23806, memo line: Luther Jackson Scholarship Fund, and/or Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, 2950 Broadway, NY, NY 10027, memo line: In Honor of Luther Jackson.
Online condolences are welcomed at www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to the staff of the J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment Inc., 102 South Ave., www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Luther Jackson
CHARLA
April 25, 2008
Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well-lived.
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life’s routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
KATHIE HOLLAND
April 25, 2008
I can not find the words to say
Exactly how I feel.
That truly describes the hurt inside,
For I know your pain is so real
Your heart, so heavy, with so much pain,for the empty loss inside.
The tears fall down like falling rain
That never seems to subside.
It's very hard to say "goodbye",
To the one you loved so much.
But if you go to God in prayer,
You'll feel His sense of touch.
Think of your sorrows calmly,
when daylight turns to night.
Go tell it all to Jesus,
For He will make it right.
He's always there to listen,
When your grief, to Him, you give.
You'll feel the burden lifted,
And again, your life you'll live.
CHARLES DUNCAN
April 25, 2008
One Day at a Time
You lived your life one day at a time.
The words you shared were always kind.
You loved us all with your whole heart.
It saddens us to be apart, and forever we
hold you in our hearts
Today you stand in God's bright light.
Watching over us day and night.
In our hearts you will remain
Until the day we meet again...
Forever Your love will live on in our hearts
and the hearts of those you touched.
We are so grateful to God for blessing our lives with
the beautiful gift of you.
We miss you sweet angel,
more than you can imagine.
CAROYYN MILES
April 25, 2008
Please accept our deepest sympathies.
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help at this time.
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
The loss of someone so close is difficult to bear. We share your grief.
Our hearts go out to you at this time and in the days ahead.
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.
CHERRY TAYLOR
April 25, 2008
When I am dead, my dearest
When I am dead, my dearest,
Sing no sad songs for me;
Plant thou no roses at my head,
Nor shady cypress tree:
Be the green grass above me
With showers and dewdrops wet;
And if thou wilt, remember,
And if thou wilt, forget.
I shall not see the shadows,
I shall not feel the rain;
I shall not hear the nightingale
Sing on, as if in pain:
And dreaming through the twilight
That doth not rise nor set,
Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.
By Christina Rossetti
The Poetry Foundation
To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say...
but first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness; here is just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I'm with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you."
It's good to have you back again; you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family, they'll be here later on.
I need you here badly; you're part of my plan.
There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man."
God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.
And when you lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight.
God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.
When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years
because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.
I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
But if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.
I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.
There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
but together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too...
that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.
If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain,
then you can say to God at night......"My day was not in vain."
And now I am contented....that my life has been worthwhile,
knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.
So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,
just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When you're walking down the street, and you've got me on your mind;
I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.
And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free,
remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.
Ruth Ann Mahaffey (author)
©Copyright 1998-2008
BARBARA JONES
April 25, 2008
Crossing the Bar
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.
By Alfred, Lord Tennyson
The Poetry Foundation
PAULINE O'DONNELL
April 25, 2008
God Saw You
God saw you getting tired,
When a cure was not to be.
So He wrapped his arms around you,
and whispered, "Come to me".
You didn't deserve what you went through,
So He gave you rest.
God's garden must be beautiful,
He only takes the best
And when I saw you sleeping,
So peaceful and free from pain
I could not wish you back
To suffer that again.
My prayers and thoughts are with you during this challenging time. Be encouraged that God will definitely sustain you, comfort you, and see you through. He continues to do that me and my family, and will undoubtedly do the same for you. Love you all. God bless!
GOD HAS CHOSEN THIS SPECIAL PERSON FOR A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN HIS KINGDOM.MY GOD STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY AND MAY YOU CONTINUE TO ASK HIM TO GUIDE YOU.EVERYONE IS PRAYING FOR YOU...
If tears could build a stairway
And memories were a lane,
I would walk right up to heaven
To bring you home again.
No farewell words were spoken.
No time to say good-bye.
You were gone before we knew it,
And only God knows why.
My heart still aches in sadness
And secret tears still flow.
What it meant to lose you,
No one will ever know.
Maureen (Jackson Family) Sullivan
April 24, 2008
To the Jackson Family,
Luther will be sorely missed. His legacy lives on. We all loved his spirit! He was a blessing. Peace & Love, Cousins Maureen & Maya
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