Jerry Duwaine Jackson

Mr. Jerry Duwaine Jackson, 84, of Concord, NC, passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at his home. Jerry was born July 14, 1941, in Canton, OH, to the late Bert Croner and the late Lenora Jackson. He was the oldest of his siblings. At the age of three, his family moved to Rendville, OH.

Jerry attended Corning High School where he played basketball from 1957-1960. During his senior year, he averaged 29 points and 16 rebounds per game, resulting in him making All-Ohio (1959-1960). Turning down offers from Big Ten schools, he attended Ohio University (OU) in Athens, OH, on a four-year basketball scholarship. He was the lead scorer, earned the title of Most Valuable Player (MVP), and assisted the 1963-1964 team in winning the Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC) championship. As the MAC champions, the team was entered into the NCAA tournament and became the first MAC school to reach the Elite 8. This enabled them to be recognized as the best team in 100 years of OU history. In 1964, Jerry was drafted by the Detroit Pistons. However, due to an injury during the exhibition season, he did not continue with the team.

Jerry was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966 where he served two years and fought in the Vietnam War. Afterwards, he returned to OU to obtain his Bachelor and Masters degrees and began his teaching career in Zanesville, OH, where he taught Industrial Technology to middle school students for 37 years. Jerry coached track and basketball while teaching at Grover Cleveland Junior High School. He also coached basketball for 12 years at Ohio University-Zanesville (OUZ) and was recognized as having the winningest season for several years. Jerry was inducted into five (5) Halls of Fame: Ohio University Hall of Fame, OUZ Athletic Department Hall of Fame, Ohio Hoop Zone Hall of Fame, Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame, and Southern Local Schools Hall of Fame. Even with all these accomplishments, Jerry was an incredibly humble, generous, and selfless man. His students, players, and coworkers always spoke highly of him.

Jerry was very active and involved in the local community. In 2015, Jerry and Anita were named Power Couple at the Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast in Zanesville, OH, for their devotion and dedication to community service. Jerry received an award from the Zanesville City Schools for his “dedication, commitment, and gift of time to education while enriching the lives of Ohio students.” He was also part of the Forever Dads Legacy of Fatherhood Class of 2020. The Rendville Improvement Association recognized his efforts in rebuilding of the village of Rendville. He is a member of the Zanesville Esquire Club and a founder of the Nelson T. Gant Foundation, noted for their building of character and community pride.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Anita Patricia Grant Jackson of Concord, NC; daughters, Kimberly M. Reynolds and Kristina A. Graham (Christopher); four grandchildren, Jordan Graham (Katie), Daphne Reynolds, Jaden Graham, and Danielle Reynolds; sister, Charlotte Newell, brother, Bert Croner, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, family and friends.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 – 7:00PM on Friday, January 23, 2026, at Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord, NC. The funeral service will be on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 10:00AM at the Charlotte Church, 2200 Ashley Rd., Charlotte, NC 28208. Burial will follow at Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Gardens, 1504 W. Sugar Creek Road, Charlotte, NC.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Rendville Historic Perseveration Society (https://rendvillehistory.org/),  Nelson T. Gant Foundation (https://www.nelsontgant-foundation.org/), or Judge Perry B. Jackson Fund (www.clevelandfoundation.org/philanthropy-giving/organizational-funds)

Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord is serving the Jackson family.