John L. Jackson Sr.

JOHN L. JACKSON SR. was born on April 20, 1929, one of ten living children to Robert and Lucy Pettus Jackson, in LaCrosse, Virginia. He attended Mecklenburg County Schools. He worked on the family farm where tobacco was the main crop. In 1946, John moved to Philadelphia, PA and worked for J.W. Thomas and Wilf Brothers as a laborer. In 1950, he began active duty in the United States Army, serving in the Korean War. He was team chief in communications after a 15-week course for Field Wireman and Switchboard. He and his crew were the telephone men on the front lines of combat. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1952. When John returned to Philadelphia, he attended Philadelphia Wireless Technical Institute for Radio Engineering and Electronics, Radar Operation and Maintenance. He graduated in 1955. While in Philadelphia, he met and married Dorothy Gilmore. To this union are four children. In 1956, John was hired by Glenn L. Martin, which merged with American-Marietta Corp., forming the Martin Marietta Corp. in Middle River, Maryland. The family moved to Park Avenue in Baltimore. John did course work for instrumentation on Industrial Electronics and was certified. In Denver, Colorado for the company, he worked on flight control testing and trouble shooting. After a huge layoff in 1962 from Martin’s, John was hired by Westinghouse Aerospace Division, Friendship Airport as an Electronic Technician. From 1968 to 1970 he was supervisor of test personnel. John retired at the top of his pay grade after 30 years of employment at Westinghouse. He and his family resided in the West Arlington Community since 1963 in the current home. He is oh so loved for eternity, and cherished beyond measure. He was known as a quiet man to all who knew him. Preceding him in death were his parents, wife, siblings Rosa Johnson (Charles), Charles (Bessie), Clara Jackson, Annie Hicks (George), Cleveland Jackson (Gladys) Dorothy Crenshaw (Eddie), Emmitt Jackson (Katherine), Junius Jackson, nephews and niece, Larry (living wife Maria), Robert (living wife Evelyn), Sleponia, and Clyde. Gone but not forgotten. He leaves to cherish his memory: his brother, Namon Jackson Sr. (Cora); children, Wyman, Renita, Rosemaria, and John Jr. (Michelle); grandchildren, Jasmine, Wyman II, Travis, Kennedy and Madison Jackson; nephews and nieces, Carolyn (Albert) William, Marshall (Charlene), Eugene (Felicia), Alton, Brenda (Jesse), Calvin, Curtis (Joan), Michael (Darlene), Patricia, Margaret (Dwight), Alfreda, Charles Jr., Sharonette and Namon Jr.; many more great-great-great and great-great-great-nephews and -nieces, his extended family of Dorothy’s sister-in-law, Winifred Gilmore, and nieces Patricia, Barbara, Valjean and Erika (Goddaughter), other family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Say Amen, Somebody!

Tributes

John L. Jackson Sr.

April 20, 1929 - April 25, 2025