REVEREND BILLY JOE JACKSON Sr.

1938 - 2016

REVEREND BILLY JOE JACKSON SR. Reverend Billy Joe Jackson, Sr., born October 11, 1938, at Tenaha, TX, passed away February 11, 2016, at his home in Mission, TX, after a short illness. Parents are Joseph Jackson and Vivian Pickett of Gary, TX, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Stephanie Mintora Hughes Jackson, three sons, Billy Joe (BJ) Jackson, Jr. and wife Mia, Alton Virgil Genous Jackson and wife Demetria, Brian Cort Jackson and wife Lauren. There are eight grandchildren: Alton, Jr., William, Makenna, Anayah, Brooke, Cort, Brendon, and Alexis. Reverend Jackson's surviving siblings are Marie Dade of Columbus, OH, Katherlene Piroutek and Dorothy Greer of Giddings, TX, Velma Arnold, Genous Jackson (Sandra), Katie Marie Johnson (Ulysses, Jr.) of Longview, TX, Mae Gladys Brooks (Jeffery) of Hallsville, TX, Rosie Smith (Howard) and Linda Miller of Columbus, OH, Billie Jean Webster (Charles) of Longview, TX, step-mother Susie Lee Jackson of Carthage, TX, seven step-sisters and one step-brother, plus a host of nieces and nephews. Sisters preceding him in death are Vera Jones, Syble Brown, Ella Jones, Choicy Goffney, and Octavia Choyce. One step-brother preceded him in death. Reverend Jackson graduated from Turner High School in Carthage, TX. He attained his Bachelor's Degree in history from Texas College and Master of Education degree from Prairie View A & M University at Prairie View, TX. He taught school in Dime Box ISD, La Joya ISD, Mission CISD, and Sharyland ISD. Reverend Jackson was always very active in the church. As a young child, he played the piano and sang in the choir. When he moved to the Valley, he attended a local branch of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, was ordained a deacon and then a minister of the gospel. He pastored two churches: Lily of the Valley Baptist Church, Edinburg, TX, and True Honor Missionary Baptist Church, Raymondville, TX. He was an active member of Abundant Grace Church and served as a prison minister at the Segovia Unit for over twenty years. He served as a mentor at a local halfway house serving teenage men who were in transition from juvenile detention back into the community. He and Stephanie founded Reach Our Children, They Have a Dream (ROC-THAD) which promoted awareness of both the African-American and the Hispanic communities, and provided tutoring and mentoring of life skills for at-risk children in the Rio Grande Valley, Metro Houston and Central and East Texas. He served as a little league baseball coach and basketball coach. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, cousin, and teacher who loved fishing, spending quiet times with his wife, men's ministry, spending time with his grandkids, and hanging with his three sons. A memorial service will be held at the McAllen Spanish Jordan Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 2132 S. 33rd Street, McAllen, TX 78503, on February 20, 2016, at 1:30 PM. Reverend Amancio Chapa will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: gofundme.com/blessthejacksons. Sign the guestbook at www.themonitor.com/obituaries