Julia Elaine Ward Jackson

Public Viewing Friday November 14, 2025

3 P.M.- 8 P.M. Murray Brothers Funeral Home Cascade Chapel

Celebration of Life:

Saturday November 15, 2025, at 12 Noon

Big Bethel AME Church

220 Auburn Avenue NE Atlanta Ga 30303

Interment: West View Cemetery

A Life of Keys and Song
"She hath done what she could:" Mark 14:8a

Julia Elaine (Phillips) Ward Jackson, "Elaine" as she was affectionately called, was the fourth
and youngest child, born November 19, 1936, to the union of the late Renita Elizabeth Pace
Phillips and the late Richard Albaso Phillips, Sr. She and her three siblings were raised in a
nurturing and loving home. She was preceded in death by two siblings, Richard Jr. and Renita
Elizabeth.
Elaine and Clifford Richard Ward were joined in holy matrimony in 1954, in which three
energetic children were born: Wanda Elaine, Richard Quinn, and Kathy Elise (who preceded her
demise).
Elaine's parents committed her and her siblings' early Christian witness through infant baptism.
As she grew, it was her joy to be a part of the Sunday School Youth Choir, with her eldest sister,
Renita, being the musician. She continued in young adulthood as a member of the D.T. Babcock
Young Adult Choir. Other activities included Heaven Bound cast member, Usher Board #3,
Courtesy Guild, and Choir #2 with her mother, Renita.
Elaine received her early childhood education at the prestigious Oglethorpe Laboratory
Elementary School of the Atlanta University (Normal), a beacon and catalyst for excellent early
childhood education. This exposure honed skills that proved to be vital to stimulating her
creativity and curiosity. Elaine graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and attended
Clark College (now Clark-Atlanta University) with a concentration in Early Childhood
Education. Her charismatic personality, outgoing nature, and generosity meant that she never
met a stranger! In addition, she was entrepreneurial and innovative in her pursuits.
Elaine was an exceptional "Mother" who devoted her life to her children's aspirations, as well as
those of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren – a total of four generations. One of the most
notable accomplishments was when her eldest daughter, Wanda, became the first African
American girl to graduate from the prestigious Westminster Schools of Atlanta. She was also
mother and grandmother to clergy, educators, and attorneys. She often told her three children that
when each of them was born, she told God: "Lord, You gave them to me; now I'm giving them
back to You!" Her unselfish and unconditional love extended to all and expanded to the broader
community.

"And I said, I will never break my covenant with you." Judges 2:1d KJV

Elaine's civic and social involvement included the Phyllis Wheatley Y.W.C.A., volunteerism in
the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Inc., Boy Scouts of America, Atlanta Election
Poll Worker-Voter Registration, Salvation Army, Atlanta Jobs Corps, Inc., and the Mayson
Turner Neighborhood Club.
She enjoyed writing and expressed it uniquely through poetry. But her master love was music –
how she loved to play the piano, being one of many vocal and instrumental musicians throughout
the Phillips families. Playing by ear, if Elaine heard it she could play it, be it classical or
contemporary.
After having lived with family in Maryland for twenty-five years, Elaine's decline in health
caused her to cease most of her favorite activities and led her back home to her beloved Atlanta
in 2021. A life of motherly sacrifice and unconditional love, well-lived in simple elegance and
class – "Sweet Elaine"!
Elaine leaves to mourn her eternal sojourn a loving, devoted daughter, Wanda Elaine,
Champaign, IL; an affectionate son, Richard Quinn, Sr., Saint Simons Island, GA;
Grandchildren, Retina Quinnisha Burton (Marcus, Sr.), Atlanta, GA, Renita Quinnique Ward,
Chicago, IL, Richard Quinn Ward, Jr., Linz, Austria, Michael Amin Abdi, Atlanta, GA, and
Pauline Alia Ward, Atlanta, GA; Great-grandchildren, Saleigh Quinnisha Derico, Greensboro,
NC, Quint Mandel Lattimore, Chicago, IL, Jonah Richard Ward, Valerie Nicole Ward and Oliver
Scott Ward, all of Linz, Austria, and Marley Kasan Earl Abdi, Ft. Myers, FL; one Sister, Ella
Carolyn Ross, Chicago, IL, Nieces and Nephews, Reginald Lewis Peek and Anna Latrice
Williams (John), both of Atlanta, GA, Karl Clifton Ross and Andrea Danette Ross Divers, both
of Chicago, IL; and a host of other relatives and friends.

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep..."
Robert Frost