Willie H. Jackson Sr.

Mr. Willie Harry Jackson Sr., age 88, of 211 Graham Road, Petersburg, Va., also known as "Monk," entered eternal and peaceful rest on Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, at McGuire Veterans Medical Center, Richmond, Va.

He was born to the late James E. Jackson and Blanche H. Jackson in Blackstone, Va., on Jan. 2, 1921. He started barbering in 1942. He was one of the first black barbers in Petersburg, Va. In 1944, he started barbering on Halifax Street in the Blue Bird Barber Shop. He was a semi-retired barber until 2003 at home for special customers.

He was honorably discharged from the United States Navy. He was World War II veteran. He also worked as custodian in the Petersburg Public Schools and at Virginia State University. He was an avid Washington Redskins football fan and bird watcher. He along with his wife, Emily, were coordinators of the Bunker Hill Neighborhood Watch Committee and the Bunker Hill Reunion.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Emily Mae Jackson; one daughter, Delores Parham; three brothers, Johnny Jackson, Earnest Jackson and James E. "Snow" Jackson; and one sister, Lucy B. Rose; and a son-in-law, Herbert Lee Howard Sr.

Left to cherish his precious memories, five devoted and caring children, Mrs. Otelia S. Harrison (Linwood), Mrs. Celestine Jackson Taylor, Mrs. Deborah J. Howard, Dr. Winifred Jackson-Francis (Gary) and retired Maj. Willie H. Jackson Jr. (Mary); two sisters, Chaplain Sadie Williams (Chaplain W. Williams) and Mrs. Gertrude Jackson (Lee); one brother, Benjamin Jackson (Lillian); a host of 18 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren; and a number of great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends among them, Mr. John Henry Brown and Mr. Clarence Butcher.

A special thanks to the staff of McGuire Veterans Medical Center.

A funeral service will be held 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 418 Halifax St., Petersburg, Va.; the Rev. Dr. Robert A. Diggs, pastor. Interment to follow at the Dinwiddie Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends at 211 Graham Road, Petersburg, Va., and may be contacted by calling the following numbers: Deborah, (804) 733-8852; Otelia, 861-9744; or Celestine, (804) 553-8778.

Family members and friends are invited to pay final tribute to Mr. Jackson online at www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com where you may view a video tribute online or at the establishment.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the staff of the J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, Va., (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.