Sharon Harvie Jackson

Following a brief illness, Sharon Harvie Jackson, 80, of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away December 7 , 2025 with her husband, family and devoted caregivers by her side. Born June 21, 1945, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, she was the daughter of LaNelle Attwood Ragan and Herbert H. Ragan, Jr. She grew up in Rison, Arkansas and attended Rison High School where she was a cheerleader and played cornet in the band. Her maternal grandmother, Sarah LaVicie Attwood, who she referred to lovingly as "Mama," had a great influence on her life instilling in her the virtues of honesty, kindness and respect for others. As well as a wonderful sense of humor.

Moving to Northwest Arkansas her junior year, she graduated from Fayetteville High School and attended the University of Arkansas where she pursued an Arts and Sciences degree and was a member of the University of Arkansas Debate Team successfully acquiring the skills to forcefully and effectively advocate her beliefs and opinions. In addition, as a student assistant she taught classes in classical ballet which she often laughingly pointed out included the required attendance of many student athletes from the Razorback football team.

In the summer of 1966, she met Jerry, the man she would later marry, while they were jointly working in the gubernatorial campaign of Congressman Brooks Hays. Ultimately, politics became not only her passion but her professional career as well. In 1971, she became a key member of the gubernatorial staff of Governor Dale Bumpers, later joining his successful campaign for United States Senator in1974 with campaign responsibility for Pulaski County, the largest county in Arkansas. She later worked as a campaign manager and political consultant for many Democratic candidates for public office in Arkansas until she retired from politics in the early 1980s to devote full time to her family.

After her husband graduated from law school in 1968, the couple moved to Little Rock where he practiced law for several years. While in Little Rock, she gave birth to her sons, Michael Steele Jackson and John Brooks Jackson. The family later moved to New Orleans in 1987 when her husband left his law practice to work exclusively for one of his clients, Entergy Corporation. In New Orleans, she made many dear friends and was a member of the St. Charles Presbyterian Church. In 2005, she and her husband followed their grandchildren, moving to Austin, Texas, and, in 2012, followed their grandchildren for the second time, moving to Charlotte. Sharon also loved the mountains, spending many periods of time each year in Aspen, Colorado and enjoyed skiing, hiking and other mountain-based activities throughout the seasons.

She is survived by Jerry Donald Jackson, her loving husband of 59 years, her sons, Michael Steele Jackson (Katy) and John Brooks Jackson (Julie), and her beloved grandchildren: Logan Scott Jackson, Penn Harper Jackson and Graham Foster Jackson. She is also survived by her sister, Sarah Ragan Lea Caplan (Stan) and her cousins, Dr. Harvie Marks "Mark" Attwood (Deej) and Toni Bradford (Thomas). She was preceded in death by her first grandson Walter Kent Jackson, who like her other grandchildren, brought much happiness and joy to the woman lovingly called "Butterfly."

Plans for the celebration of her life have not been finalized. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be sent to her favorite charities, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105 and the Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203.