Dr. David Jackson

Dr. David Jackson, 79, of 113 Tomahawk Trail, passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at UNC Health Wayne Memorial Hospital with his loving family by his side.

Funeral Services will be held Sunday, April 14, at 2 p.m. at First Methodist Church in Clinton, NC, with the service led by the Rev. Matthew Seals. Visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m. prior to the service in the sanctuary. The family will attend a private burial immediately following the service.

Born in 1944, in Saint Pauls, NC, David was the son of the late Elmer Dewey and Laura Elizabeth Crowley Jackson.

David spent nearly 50 years as an educator and educational administrator. He was the founding principal at Douglas Byrd Senior High School in Fayetteville, NC, where he served for 24 years before becoming the Director of Secondary Education and Associate Superintendent for the Cumberland County School System. He spent an additional 18 years providing online education for high school students by creating an online Web Academy, one of the first in the country. He also worked as Director at the Regional Alternative Licensing Center, assisting thousands of aspiring teachers to become certified. Dr. Jackson inspired generations of individuals wanting to pursue a career in education.

David held a Bachelor of Science degree from Campbell University; a Master of Arts in Education from East Carolina University; and achieved his Doctor of Education from Vanderbilt University.

He enjoyed spending time with his friends dining out, travelling, boating, and fishing. He was a culinary master in the kitchen and loved growing his own herbs in the garden. Classical music, theater, opera, and reading were additional interests. He was a true intellectual, and his greatest passion was spending time with his family.

David is survived by his loving wife, Rebecca "Becky" Smith Jackson, and his two daughters who were his pride and joy: Melissa Jackson Mullinix, and fiancée, Barrow Arthur Koslosky, of Charleston, WV, and Julie Jackson Blackman, and husband, Michael Douglas, of Newton Grove. He is also survived by three sons he also cherished: Jason Michael Taylor, and wife, Andrea Leigh, of Cornelius, NC, Jonathan Mark Taylor of Gastonia, NC, and Jeremy Matthew Taylor, and wife, Sarah Efird of Stanfield, NC. David's legacy extends to eleven grandchildren: Lauren Elizabeth Mullinix, Olivia Paige Jackson, Robert Jackson Lee, Jenna Stuart Lee, Everett Lawrence Jackson, Jason Michael Taylor, Jr., Grace Victoria Taylor, Elizabeth Claire Taylor, Hannah Margaret Blackman, Michaela Susanne Bailey, and Alexandra Sutton Blackman. He is also survived by brothers Dr. Douglas Jackson, and wife Kathie, of Red Springs, and Donald Jackson, and wife Faye, of Winston-Salem; sisters-in-law Brenda Jackson and Ellen Hursey Jackson; as well as many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, David was preceded in death by two brothers: William Dewey Jackson and James Eugene Jackson.

The family would also like to acknowledge his loving caregiver and friend, Dorothy Scrivner Donis, and his physician Dr. Arthur Apolinario, and staff. Appreciation also goes out to Liberty Home Health special nurses, Camelia Worley and Ashley Jones.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.royalhallfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The David Jackson Family Scholarship for Education via The SkillPointe Foundation at: https://www.skillpointefoundation.org/support.

Royal-Hall is honored to serve the Jackson family.