Doris Jean Williams-Jackson

DORIS JEAN WILLIAMS-JACKSON Life for Doris Jean Williams-Jackson began in Port Gibson, Mississippi, the only child of her mother, Kathryn Ruth Williams and father, Mack Williams. She and her parents moved to South Bend, Indiana when she was 23 months old. At 8 years old she confessed hope in Christ and was baptized into the Pilgrim Baptist Church under the Pastorate of the late Rev. Saunders. Later her family moved to East Chicago, Indiana where she joined the Tabernacle Baptist Church. Mrs. Jackson attended Franklin Elementary School and is a graduate of East Chicago Washington. Upon high school graduation she became a sales associate for 8 years at Charles A. Stevens in the Chicago Loop and attended Chicago Art Institute where she studied dress design. She was joined in Holy Matrimony to the late Rev. Dr. F. Brannan Jackson on September 13, 1958. The union was blessed with two children, Kathryn Louise Jackson-Weathersby born April 19, 1961, and the late Rev. Keith Brannan Jackson, born April 21, 1965, deceased August 23, 1995. They were married until her husband's death July 13, 2003. Mrs. Jackson was a resident of Gary for 45 years & served as the First Lady of Calvary Institutional Missionary Baptist Church for 37 years. She served as a Sunday School teacher for over 20 years, Youth Director, Supervisor of Young Adult Usher Board, Coordinator of Vacation Bible School where she authored the Bible curriculum. Founder and Organizer of the Levite Caretakers and the Calvary Prayer Warriors. She served as the president of the Minister's Wives for the Original General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Indiana, Inc., which her husband served as state president for 25 years. As entrepreneurs the Jackson's opened Doris' Clothing where she functioned as the buyer, bookkeeper and window trimmer. Her display windows received high praise; she won an award from Main Street Indiana from former first lady Judy O'Bannon, Indiana's late governor's wife. She served as a former president of the Gary Downtown Merchant's Association. Mrs. Jackson proudly sold beautiful quality couture to many women across the United States for 29 years before she retired in 2001 to care for her ailing husband. She served as the founder and president of Grandparents United (2001-2002) at Banneker Achievement Center in Gary. Under her leadership the organization sponsored a benefit, which helped the principal Mrs. Sarah Givens to purchase needed equipment for the student body. Rev. Keith Brannan Jackson Memorial Educational Athletic Foundation was founded by Rev. and Mrs. Jackson in 1998, in their son's memory. Mrs. Jackson served as Chief Operations Officer. She also purchased and distributed uniforms for the campers. The Rev. Keith Brannan Jackson Memorial Educational Athletic Foundation Summer Youth Camp has served thousands of inner-city youth ages 6-14 in Lake County for the past six years. As a gifted orator with a distinctive voice Mrs. Jackson spoke at many churches & religious functions. She is preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Rev. Dr. F. Brannan Jackson; her son, Rev. Keith Brannan Jackson; mother-in-law, Louise Stokes; brother, Lucius Williams and her late father, Mack Williams. She leaves to cherish her memory: a loving devoted mother, Kathryn Ruth Williams; sister, Janet Tate of Evanston, IL; brothers, Wayne and Howard Williams of East Chicago, IN; daughters, Kathryn Louise Jackson (Rev. Eric) Weathersby of Merrillville, IN; Deborah Morris, Renee Sallee, Anna Sallee of Gary; grandchildren, Jarrett Rashawn Weathersby, Doris Jean Morris of Merrillville, IN, Rev. Craig Morris, Gabrielle Rowe, Christopher Jolly, Melvin Rowe Jr. all of Gary, William Morris of Stone Mountain, GA; great grandchildren, Chelsea Barnes and Shannon Pardue of Merrillville, IN, Justin & Darius Morris of Raleigh, NC, William Drake Morris of Stone Mountain, GA; and many wonderful relatives and friends. Her memory will live forever in the hearts of those that knew and loved her. The family scripture is, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28. Services will be held at the Calvary Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, 2400 Virginia St. on Friday, December 19, 2003. Visitation will be 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., family hour from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Elder Dr. Dale Cudjoe, Pastor of Christ Temple Church of Christ Holiness U.S.A., will preside and Rev. Dr. Donald L. Parson Jr., Pastor of Logos Baptist Assembly, Chicago, IL will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Rev. Keith Brannan Jackson Educational Athletic Foundation Ministry, P.O. Box 15027, Gary, IN 46402. Professional services rendered by: Guy & Allen Funeral Directors, Inc.