Mary V. Jackson

Mary Shannon Jackson December 17th, 1922 - June 20th 2011 Mary Shannon was the second of two children born to the Late Deacon Albert Shannon and Virginia (Carter) Shannon on December 17th 1922 in Albany Georgia. The family moved to Jersey City, New Jersey when Mary was 4 years old. She attended the public schools in Jersey City. She was married to Fred Jackson; from this union one son was born, Frederick Jackson (Kamau). Mary comes from a religious family background. Her grandfather was Pastor of the First African Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia. Her father was an ordained Deacon at Salem Baptist Church in Jersey City, and her brother later became an ordained Minister in the AME Zion Church. She was baptized at an early age and continued her religious studies and missionary work even in her later years. Later in life she became and was a devoted Jehovah Witness. In 2004 she was baptized and ordained as a Minister of the Cheverly Congregation. Mary's life has always been one of service to others. While growing up, besides helping others, Mary was also interested in music and art. She never fully pursued an art or music career because she devoted herself as a single parent to raising her son. When she was younger, she wanted to be a Registered Nurse, but she had difficulty with math and chemistry. Rather than abandoning her love of nursing, she worked most of her working life as a Nurse's Aide. She worked in hospitals and also in her later years did private home care. At an age when most people are planning and thinking about their retirement, Mary became a full time student. She completed her GED and earned an Associates' Degree, both at Essex County Community College. She then matriculated to New Jersey City College where she continued her education until the death of her father in 1984. Upon the death of her dad, she returned home to Jersey City to care for her mother until she passed in 1991. She resided in Jersey City until her own health issues brought her to Maryland to stay with her son and his family. On June 20th 2011, early in the morning, the struggles of day to day living ended and she was set free for a greater existence. Mary was predeceased in death by her brother, the late Reverend Albert Shannon, and sister-in-law, Bertha Shannon. Mary Shannon Jackson is survived by her son, Kamau Jackson; daughter -in-law, Ramona Jackson; three grandchildren, Kanika Jackson Mobley, Nayo Jackson, and Chase Harris; great-grandson, Nazir Mobley; two aunts, Hattie and Archie Carter; nephews, Ronald Shannon, Mark Shannon, Matthew Shannon, Horace Haigler; a host of nieces, other nephews and cousins; a special friend, Jerry Lee; Ruth (mother of Kanika and Nayo); loving Jackson family members, Debora, Gregory, Cynthia, Jessie, Taiwan, Myra; and a host of additional family and friends.