Mary Jackson

Mary Jackson was born February 3rd, 1933 to the late Wida and Catherine Washington in Grady County Georgia. At the age of six, her parents relocated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She attended Robert L Vann Elementary School. In 1950 she met her late husband John D. Jackson, Sr. on a blind date. They entered holy matrimony on June 14th, 1951. Out of this union 4 children were born.

 In 1971, she received her GED and continued her education at CCAC studying child development. She worked as a housekeeper, worked at the Jewish Home for the Aged, worked as a school crossing guard and worked as the office manager to Representative Joseph Preston until she retired in 1992. Mary became highly involved in politics and served as the 13th ward committee woman from 1982 until 1992. During this tenure, she was instrumental as a community activist. Mary not only was instrumental with the community, but spent many hours motivating, encouraging and educating the community of the importance of voting. She rubbed elbows with K. Leroy Irvis, Tom Flaherty, Bob Dole, Sophie Masloff and Tim Stevens, to only mention a few. She sat of the board of directors of One Church One Child under the Catholic Diocese

John and Mary became faithful members of Trinity AME Church in 1970. Mary served as president of the Womens’ Missionary Society, Director of YPD (Young People Department), sang in the choir, sat as a trustee and on the steward board. The couple fostered many, many children. One would think they were the Pied Piper. Many years and many hours she served children to instill within them confidence, self-esteem, joy and the knowledge of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ.

Mary leaves to cherish her memory 1 sister, Marjorie Barron, of Pittsburgh, 4 children, Gwendolyn, Darlene, John Jr and Gail all of Pittsburgh. She leaves 3 grandchildren, Nicole Williams (Ernest) of Florida, Brianna of Florida and John David III of Pittsburgh; 3 great grandchildren, NyDasia Taggert (Javarrius) of Florida, Brelynn and Maya Williams of Florida and 2 great great grandchildren, Dior Taggert of Florida and Jihana Jackson of Pittsburgh and a host of nephews, nieces and friends. She was proceeded into death by her parents, Wida and Catherine Washington, her late husband, John David Jackson Sr, her sisters Vera Strothers, Evelyn Clark, her brother, Wilbur Washington and her grandson, Donnell S. Jones, Jr.

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