John Jackson, Jr.

John Jackson, Jr. was the twelfth child of the late Athie Boone Jackson and John Kay Jackson of Ochlocknee, Georgia. He was affectionately known as "JJ" or "JB" by his close friends and family. He was baptized at an early age at Midway Baptist Church in Ochlocknee.

He met his first love, the preacher's daughter, Miss Lucille Hopkins in middle school and they were married at age 18. John and LH Jackson were married for 28 years and their union produced four wonderful daughters who he raised under his loving guidance.

John spent his working life employed as a chef on a ship in Anna Marie Island for a few years. He worked as a supervisor at Sunnyland Packing Company for 29 years, and finished his career with the New Jersey Public School system before fully retiring in Newark, New Jersey. John was known as an excellent cook and enjoyed cooking southern style foods for friends and family.

John enjoyed sports and was an excellent swimmer. He enjoyed telling stories of how he would dive in the ocean and swim under the boats to clear tangled lines and props. He was also an awesome dancer. His feet didn't stop moving until the music ended, and he would still dance to his favorite old songs at 84 years old. John was known for telling jokes, and always had a hilarious story to tell. He was a caring man who didn't believe in mistreating people, and never met a stranger that he didn't make smile. John loved his family and stayed close to his daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He was always ready for family gatherings and enjoyed his times with them.

He was preceded in death by his loving parents, ten siblings: Herman, Jessie, Joseph, Ulysses, Roosevelt, Amos, James, Angeline, Catherine, Juanita and daughter, Athye Oneida Jackson- Carter.

He leaves behind his mourning daughters, Gwendolyn Bryant, Kathy Chatmon (James), Joni Jackson-Chastain (Philip Jr), Doris Chester, sons Darryl Bryant and Morris Ponder. His grandchildren, Billy Thompson Jr, Bernard Davis, Michael Bryant, Strawberri Bryant, Justin Phillips, Quentron Ponder, Quentelleous Ponder, Chenise Carmichael, Rachel Montgomery, Amber Bryant, Keonna Jackson Johnson (Roddy Sr), April Jackson (Bernard), Jordan Jones, Asa Carter, Bernard Carter, Alicia McBurrow, Skylar Chatmon, Sage Chatmon, and many great- grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He also leaves three sisters, Annette Jackson, Vera Thomas, and Louvenia Smalls, and a very sweet, dedicated, and loving friend, Rosa Rhodes of North Carolina.