He was a cross-between The Marlboro Man and a Teddy Bear; tough on the outside, but soft on the inside. He had that rugged,bad boy look; the kind that the girls really adored. He spoke softly, like Marlon Brando, in The Godfather; more of a whispered mumble than anything else. Devilish eyes, but with a twinkle and smile that put everyone at ease. He had a warm and gentle heart, a jovial personality, and a loving disposition. He liked most everybody and I personally never met anyone who didn't like Jimmy Don Jackson.
Some called him a maverick in his younger years. Maybe he was. How many of us drove our own car to school in the sixth grade? Jimmy Don, Don Allen Poole, and yours truly spent a lot of time together in our high school days. We had some great times together and developed a camaraderie that lasted throughout the years.
Following graduation, I moved to Washington, D.C. and then all over the world. Jimmy Don and I didn't communicate much via phone or mail, but he was the first person on my list to visit whenever I returned to Decatur. Jimmy Don and Don Allen remained in close contact and their friendship never faltered.
Jimmy Don was a talented person with a work ethic to be envied. He and Peggy owned a beautiful home, primarily built by Jimmy Don, before most of us graduated from college. Throughout his life, Jimmy Don was dedicated to his two daughters, Jennifer and Catherine. He didn't want much for himself, but wanted his children to have the best that he could provide.
Don Allen supported Jimmy Don through those last years of pain and suffering and should be commended for his efforts. He spent the night at Jimmy Don's house on the last night of Jimmy Don's life. The next morning, Don Allen noticed that Jimmy Don didn't look very well, but said that he was smiling, cracking jokes, and acting like the Jimmy Don that we all knew. Jimmy Don passed peacefully that afternoon in his own home. I cried when Don Allen informed me of his death and damn it, I'm crying right now as I write this. I'm glad that Jimmy Don was a part of my life. He was a cherished friend, a good man, and he is missed.
Jimmy Don was a good friend and our families knew each other and I met him long before we went to high school. All of us were envious of the red and white 1956 Buick Special . Been with him a few times when we would drag race out on 8th street I guess. He would hold it in low till we got up to 70mph and then put in drive and felt like we jumped half a block. Won a bunch of drags too. We played football together and one day he gave me a ride to the stadium on his front fender. The road was gravel and he gunned it pretty good, we hit a dip in the road and I went head first onto the road. Don't know how he missed me ,but he did. Last time I hitched a ride, I'll tell ya. Miss him a lot.
Jimmy Don Jackson will always be remembered by all of us. He was one of a kind. I remember him walking to class ever so slowly with his Levi's hanging down, not like the kids of today wear them, but I still can see him going down the halls of DHS. Dwight Sr. knew him from years before. One day he said that he was going to get Jimmy Don to brick our home. I told him he would never get thru with it as slow as he walked to class. Boy was I wrong. Dwight was his helper and Jimmy Don like to have worked him to death. He was a fast worker and did beautiful work. He was a great worker. He had his ups and downs just like all of us. I am so thankful that Dwight and I both knew him all thru his lifetime. Now on the football field he was FAST. He was one of a kind, never be any one like Jimmy Don.
Graveside service for Jimmy Don Jackson, 63, of Decatur will be Monday, April 5, 2004, at 4 p.m. at Roselawn Cemetery with the Rev. Ron Manley officiating and Ridout’s Brown-Service Funeral Home directing.
Visitation will be prior to the service from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the gardens at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Mr. Jackson died Saturday, April 3, 2004, at his residence. He was born Feb. 17, 1941, to William Louie Jackson and Ida Parker Jackson.
Survivors include his daughters, Jennifer Jackson of Decatur and Catherine Jackson Lindsey and husband Jonathan of Birmingham; and one grandson, Jackson Loewer Lindsey.
Chris Thompson
He was a cross-between The Marlboro Man and a Teddy Bear; tough on the outside, but soft on the inside. He had that rugged,bad boy look; the kind that the girls really adored. He spoke softly, like Marlon Brando, in The Godfather; more of a whispered mumble than anything else. Devilish eyes, but with a twinkle and smile that put everyone at ease. He had a warm and gentle heart, a jovial personality, and a loving disposition. He liked most everybody and I personally never met anyone who didn't like Jimmy Don Jackson.Some called him a maverick in his younger years. Maybe he was. How many of us drove our own car to school in the sixth grade? Jimmy Don, Don Allen Poole, and yours truly spent a lot of time together in our high school days. We had some great times together and developed a camaraderie that lasted throughout the years.
Following graduation, I moved to Washington, D.C. and then all over the world. Jimmy Don and I didn't communicate much via phone or mail, but he was the first person on my list to visit whenever I returned to Decatur. Jimmy Don and Don Allen remained in close contact and their friendship never faltered.
Jimmy Don was a talented person with a work ethic to be envied. He and Peggy owned a beautiful home, primarily built by Jimmy Don, before most of us graduated from college. Throughout his life, Jimmy Don was dedicated to his two daughters, Jennifer and Catherine. He didn't want much for himself, but wanted his children to have the best that he could provide.
Don Allen supported Jimmy Don through those last years of pain and suffering and should be commended for his efforts. He spent the night at Jimmy Don's house on the last night of Jimmy Don's life. The next morning, Don Allen noticed that Jimmy Don didn't look very well, but said that he was smiling, cracking jokes, and acting like the Jimmy Don that we all knew. Jimmy Don passed peacefully that afternoon in his own home. I cried when Don Allen informed me of his death and damn it, I'm crying right now as I write this. I'm glad that Jimmy Don was a part of my life. He was a cherished friend, a good man, and he is missed.
Chris Thompson
Eddie Tiller
Jimmy Don was a good friend and our families knew each other and I met him long before we went to high school. All of us were envious of the red and white 1956 Buick Special . Been with him a few times when we would drag race out on 8th street I guess. He would hold it in low till we got up to 70mph and then put in drive and felt like we jumped half a block. Won a bunch of drags too. We played football together and one day he gave me a ride to the stadium on his front fender. The road was gravel and he gunned it pretty good, we hit a dip in the road and I went head first onto the road. Don't know how he missed me ,but he did. Last time I hitched a ride, I'll tell ya. Miss him a lot.Pattie Craig (Jett)
Jimmy Don Jackson will always be remembered by all of us. He was one of a kind. I remember him walking to class ever so slowly with his Levi's hanging down, not like the kids of today wear them, but I still can see him going down the halls of DHS.Dwight Sr. knew him from years before. One day he said that he was going to get Jimmy Don to brick our home. I told him he would never get thru with it as slow as he walked to class. Boy was I wrong. Dwight was his helper and Jimmy Don like to have worked him to death. He was a fast worker and did beautiful work. He was a great worker. He had his ups and downs just like all of us. I am so thankful that Dwight and I both knew him all thru his lifetime. Now on the football field he was FAST. He was one of a kind, never be any one like Jimmy Don.
Bob Thomas
Graveside service for Jimmy Don Jackson, 63, of Decatur will be Monday, April 5, 2004, at 4 p.m. at Roselawn Cemetery with the Rev. Ron Manley officiating and Ridout’s Brown-Service Funeral Home directing.
Visitation will be prior to the service from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the gardens at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Mr. Jackson died Saturday, April 3, 2004, at his residence. He was born Feb. 17, 1941, to William Louie Jackson and Ida Parker Jackson.
Survivors include his daughters, Jennifer Jackson of Decatur and Catherine Jackson Lindsey and husband Jonathan of Birmingham; and one grandson, Jackson Loewer Lindsey.