Ruth Jackson

Ruth Jackson, affectionately know as "Cissy," was born on June 9, 1948 to the late Earnest and Ruby Harshaw in Pittsburgh, PA.   She was born 5 minutes after her fraternal twin Ruby.  She departed this temporal life peacefully at the age of 68 on August 23, 2016

Ruby attended Pittsburgh Public Schools and graduate from Peabody High School in 1967.  For over twenty-eight years, she was employed as a machine operator at Nabisco with zero accidents throughout her tenure.

She was joined in harmonious union with the late Donald Jackson, Sr. on August 22,1976 at the late Hersey Jackson's residence.  Two children were born eleven years apart.  She was a loyal and devout wife, loving mother and kind friend.

After she retired from Nabisco, she continued to follow her passion of working with children as a home babysitter and then at Liberty Elementary.  She also became a caregiver through UCP/CLASS for her twin sister and mother.  They were all very close and you would likely always see them together.  After they passed away, she continued caregiving until she became ill.  She had plans to create a foster home to create a safe place for children that were less fortunate through her Grandma's Child Initiative.

She attended Bethlehem Temple and was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and received the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Following Bethlehem, she attended Refuge Temple where her husband played the bass.  In recent years, she faithfully attended EL-Bethel Temple and considered everyone family.

Her passions were sharing testimonies, family, visiting the sick and shut-in, Pirates baseball, shopping at Catherine's/Kohl's/Macy's, and updating everyone on David's current location in the world.  She enjoyed baking the best sweet-potato pies for everyone for little or no compensation.

Ruth is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald Jackson, Sr., parents Earnest and Ruby Harshaw, two brothers, Andrew Harshaw of Detroit and James Harshaw of Pittsburgh, three sisters, Ruby Harshaw, Earnestine Stevens and Barbara Harshaw of Pittsburgh.

Ruth leaves to mourn; two sons, Donald, Jr. (Latosha) and David Matthew, three grandchildren, Donald III Shianne, and Nicholas, one brother Robert "Bobby" Harshaw (Vicky) of Detroit, MI, one brother-in-law, Steve Stevens, and two sisters-in-law, Gwen Harshaw and Christine (Carl) Cole, best friend, Mary Ballentine, and her "sister-cousin, Betty Weathers. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many other relatives and friends will surely miss her sweet demeanor and dedication to the church and family.