Mary Agnes Jackson
Mary Agnes Jackson, 91, passed from this life on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, following a lengthy bout with dementia.
Visitation will be 10-11 a.m., Friday, July 10, at O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home in Thomasville, Ala. Service will be at 11, followed by burial in Kelly Cemetery.
A life-long member of the United Methodist Church, she honored God and was a shining example of Christian living, especially in sharing her strong faith with her family. Even as the end neared and names of family members slipped from her memory, she recalled Bible verses and the words of gospel songs she had learned as a child.
She is survived by her three children, who loved and cared for her diligently throughout her illness: Riley Wayne Jackson, Ocean Springs, Miss.; Gerald Jackson (Jennifer), Bay Minette, Ala.; and Alice Jackson, Grand Bay, Ala.
She is also survived by six grandchildren: Brian Wayne Jackson, Mobile, Ala.; Rachel Allison Jackson, Slidell, La.; Riley Burke Jackson, Ocean Springs, Miss.; Deanna Jackson, Saraland, Ala.; Andrew Wayne Jackson, Milwaukee, Wisc.; and Derek Jackson (Megan), LaCrosse, Indiana. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren: Alex Lawrence and Abby Lawrence, Saraland, Ala.; Riley Noah Jackson, Tallahassee, Fla.; and Nathan Tomich, LaCrosse, Indiana.
In addition to her children, three devoted caregivers remained faithful until the end: Judy Franklin, Meghan Lambert and Javene Besson, all of Grand Bay, Ala.
Mrs. Jackson was the widow of Riley G. Jackson, who died in 1994. The couple was married 51 years.
A Leap Year Baby, she was born on Feb. 29, 1924, in the tiny community of Sandflat, south of Thomasville, the third of seven children of Matthew Young Bagley and Alabama “Bama” Bagley. She was the last surviving member of her birth family.
A graduate of Thomasville High School, she taught elementary school in Gosport, Ala., until she married and devoted her life to making a home for her family. She was an excellent housekeeper and cook, who also enjoyed needlework, which she often donated to church craft sales, and flower gardening, especially her prized gladiolas.
Over the years, she lived in Mt. Vernon, Ala.; Pine Grove, La.; and Petal, Miss.; because her husband worked in the lumber industry. She moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2000. She was a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, losing her home and most of her material possessions. Afterward, she resided with her children until her death.
Arrangements by O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home in Thomasville, AL.
All obituaries taken from the website of the corresponding funeral home unless otherwise noted.