Jackie Reddick Roberts

It all began on a hot bright and sunny day, August 6,1945, Jackie was the 9th of 12 children born to the late James and Alberta Reddick. Jackie gave her life to Christ at the tender age of 12, and attended Sunday school, youth programs, and church services, especially Easter programs where she always had a long speech to learn and recite.
Jackie's educational journey began in the Early County School System in Blakely, Georgia, attending elementary, middle, and high school. She was a proud graduate of the graduating class of 1963 from Washington High School. Her college debut was at Tuskegee Institute which later became Tuskegee University, in Tuskegee Alabama, then to Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama where she graduated in 1968 with a degree in Business Administration.
Jackie's personal life also flourished during this time when she married Kenneth E. Roberts her high school sweetheart on April 12, 1969 whom she first met as a sophomore at Washington High School in February, 1961. This union which started in Blakely Georgia and migrated to Washington, DC and then to East Orange and Roseland, New Jersey, lasted until her final earthly day on June 22, 2025. Also, from this union came the birth of their only child, Christopher C. Roberts in August 1969.
Jackie's career path began in private industry as an accountant/bookkeeper for 6 years then nearly forty years as a teacher and then administrator in the East Orange Public School District. She began her teaching career at Clifford J. Scott High in 1975 as a Business Administration teacher and remained at Clifford J. Scott until 2002. She then became a member of the inaugural faculty/staff of the East Orange Campus High in 2002 where she started as a teacher and then became a Dean of Students at East Orange Campus High until her retirement in 2012. To further her advancement, she earned a master's degree in secondary school administration in 1989 along with her dear friend and fellow Clifford J. Scott teacher Gwendolyn Scott, both graduating together from Jersey City State College which eventually became New Jersey City University in Jersey City, New Jersey. She loved her job, the students, parents, and the community.
Jackie served as the School Treasurer for Clifford J. Scott High School for more than a decade. A lot of money passed thru her hands and boy did she run a tight ship. She also chaired Homecoming Committee for over twenty years while at Clifford J. Scott. She coordinated and organized "The Pageant" and Homecoming parades every year. "The Pageant" was the highlight of the Clifford J. Scott school events every year of its production. Students would look forward to participate in the Homecoming campaign and "The Pageant" in the CJS Auditorium with great avidity. She also coordinated the Clifford J. Scott student talent shows in the 1980's which included some of the most talented and not so talented students and she loved them all dearly and would stay late into the night allowing the students to rehearse their performances. One year, she even organized a student and teacher talent show in 1982 which showcased the teachers group called the "Scottie Gold Dancers" which included Mrs. Roberts and her colleagues and dear friends Ms. Wells, Ms. Mitchell, Ms. Scott and Ms. Barker dancing their choregraphed steps to the hit single "All Night Long" by Lionel Richie and that performance brought the house down, the audience went wild. She was also the Color Guard Advisor for the Color Guards of the Clifford J. Scott Marching Scotties for an almost a decade travelling with the band to every Scottie football game cheering on her mighty Scotties to victory and she was a Future Business Leaders of America advisor during the same time.
Jackie had the energy and love for the job. She enjoyed working with all the excited and beautiful girls while teaching them proper etiquette and social skills. The long hours she spent did not phase her one bit. She was all about getting the job done and getting it done well. She was known and loved through the lens of "The Pageant". "The Pageant" was a community affair for school, staff, merchants and city. Mrs. Roberts, as she was called, was the center of it all. The East Orange School District recognized her hard work and dedication when she was awarded the prestigious Teacher of the Year Honor in 1995 for the East Orange School District.
Jackie had a bit of a free spirited and spontaneous side too as evident by her impromptu trip in the Summer of 1979 to California to do sightseeing in Hollywood and while there she went to CBS Studios to attend a taping of the "Price Is Right" hosted by Bob Barker. While waiting in line to enter the show's studio, the show's producers conducted a brief interview of all the prospective audience members including Jackie while they were waiting to enter the studio. While sitting in the studio audience, unexpectedly, Announcer Johnny Olsen bellows "Jackie Roberts, Come on down! You are the next contestant on the Price is Right" She always felt that since the interviewer who interviewed her was from New Jersey along with her long nails, which were always conversation starter, were the reasons that she was chosen as a contestant. As a contestant, Jackie won the bid on a silver platter to go on stage with Bob Barker and play the game where she was given a price and had to decide between two prizes as to which prize had the same price that she was given. The two prizes were a large screen television and bar chest and Jackie matched the price to the large screen television. She won, jumped up and down and cupped Bob Barker's face with her hands showing off those long nails. Then it was onto the showcase showdown and she had to bid on prizes that included 2 cars which were his and her Buick Skyhawks. His and her was the theme of her showcase. Unfortunately, she did not win the showcase but that did not dampen the memorable experience or the viewing party that she had when the show aired on national television in October '79.
Jackie was a very family-oriented person. She enjoyed preparing family gatherings for special occasions and holidays. She would travel from New Jersey to Blakely, stop in Columbus, GA and do her shopping before arriving in Blakely. And then she would cook all night. She did it all with love and did it well. Jackie was a great cook. Her dishes were always different and tasty.
Jackie retired in January 2012. Upon retiring, she with husband Kenneth Roberts and son Christoper Roberts opened "The Fish Market" in Blakely, GA. At the same time their forever home was under construction. She became ill and her care became a priority, and the project was halted in 2015. She exercised great perseverance, fortitude and character in battling her severe illness with her family by her side.
Jackie peacefully transmitted on June 22, 2025, in the presence of the husband, Kenneth Roberts, and son Christopher Roberts Esq. She was a supportive dotting mom. Jackie was proceeded in death by her parents, James and Alberta Reddick; and six siblings James, Lewis, Loylass, Mary, Zelda and Catherine.
Jackie leaves to demonstrate her legacy of love, hardworking and high achieving life style to name a few to her husband Kenneth Roberts and son Christoper Roberts, Esq; five siblings, Evelyn Morgan, L.D Reddick, Virginia Hall, Aretha Thomas, Dr. Rosie Burroughs (Fleming) and a very special sister-in-law Dorothy Reddick who refers to Jackie as "My first daughter ". Additionally, a host of nieces, nephews and cousins too many to name or to count.
Jackie would have celebrated her 80th birthday on August 6, 2025. She was fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalms 139: 14