Mrs. Mary Lois Jackson

Mrs. Mary Lois Jackson, age 78, went to meet our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on September 23, 2020 at Covenant Hospital in Saginaw, MI, after a year-long battle against cancer. She was born January 23, 1942 in Jacksonville, TX. Mary was the ninth of ten children from the union of Henry Boyd and Sweetie Lacy Boyd. She graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1960. In 1965, she moved to Saginaw, MI with her husband, Willie J. Jackson, and two children, Morganń and Karl. Twins, Michael and Michelle, were born in 1968. She worked for Saginaw Public Schools for 44 years and was a faithful member of Bethel A.M.E. Church. Mary leaves to cherish her memory, her loving two daughters, Morganń Jackson-Robinson (Lewis), Houston, TX and Michelle Jackson, Saginaw, MI; two sons, Karl Jackson(Dudley), Okemos, MI and Michael Jackson(Pablo), San Francisco, CA; grandsons, Kourlandt Akins and Joshua McGee both of Houston, TX; granddaughters, LaKendra Gilbert (Shermonte), San Antonio, TX and Teairra Robinson, Houston, TX; godsons, Rodney Murphy, Grand Rapids, MI, Jonathan Smith, Ohio, and Anthony Floyd, Saginaw, MI; goddaughters, Joyce Smith (Arthur), Tonja Brown both of Saginaw, MI, and Tiffany Mounger-Hall Atlanta, GA; special nieces, Chirila Hamilton (Cory), Quida McGee (Willie), both of Saginaw, MI and Margarette Johnson, Wichita Falls, TX; and special son, Ralph Douglas (Renee), Saginaw, MI. She is further survived by her four sisters, Maxine Thomas, Wichita Falls, Emma Hollis (Elbert) San Antonio, TX, Polly Cook, and Lorene Jones, both of Jacksonville, TX; special sister-in-law, Captoria Johnson, Tyler, TX. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 54 years, Willie J. Jackson; five brothers Bill Boyd, Jim Boyd, Ealy Boyd, G.T Boyd, and Joe Henry Boyd. Mary Lois Boyd Jackson was a woman with a passion to work as a servant. She began teaching in the Saginaw Public School District in 1965, at Potter Elementary School. She received her Bachelors of Science in Education at Texas College with K-8 certification. Mary received her Master’s in Elementary Education at Michigan State University; she also had a Reading Recovery certification from Western Michigan University. In addition to, thirty hours of post-graduate work from Central Michigan University. Mary taught in the Saginaw Public School District for forty-four years. She worked over fifteen years as a Reading Recovery teacher and seven years in a federal program called Reading First under “The No Child Left Behind” grant, and was one of the groundbreaking literacy coaches trained by the Michigan Department of Education. She was assigned to Jerome and Loomis Elementary Schools working with the K-3 staff and Special Education Instructors for Curriculum Alignment. Mary Lois was active in her community and belonged to several professional organizations. She was active in the Saginaw Education Association as building rep. and served on several committees. She was a life member of the Retired Teachers in MEA and NEA, and past member of Michigan Reading Association and Saginaw Area Reading Council and Bethel A.M.E. Church Read to Succeed Program. She served as an ELA lead teacher and was active in forming the Saginaw Public School District’s Peace Education Committee. Mary worked as a Girl Scout Leader and Cookie Chairperson for the Buena Vista area. She served as a building coordinator for the READ Program at Jerome Elementary School and served as PTA rep and worked as a mentor at Loomis Elementary. She was a member of the NAACP, the Good Neighbors Mission Executive board, and a volunteer of the CAN Council. Mary was an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., where she was a charter member and past president of the Zeta Omega Zeta Chapter of Saginaw, MI. She held all offices at the local level and received several chapter certificates of appreciation. Mary was also a retired member of the Delta Kappa Society International, Beta Pi Chapter where she held several offices and was honored as their Woman of Distinction. Mary was an active member of Bethel A.M.E Church where she was a proud member of the Bethel’s Steward Board, Bethel Trustee Board, Class leaders’ Council, Intercessory Prayer Team, Puppets of Praise Ministry, Waves of Praise Flag Ministry and Crowns of Glory Liturgical Dance Ministry. She was a member of The United Sisters in Christ Executive Board. She was a charter member of the Marvelous Mimes of Saginaw along with the late Sister LaWanna Pruitt since 2000. She worked with Evangelist Ethel Shaw and Rev. H. June Price in out-reach ministry. Mary will be remembered for her dedication to her family, friends, and community. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to the Willie and Mary Jackson Scholarship Fund at Bethel AME Church. Please see the address above and make checks payable to Bethel AME Church; write in the memo the Mary and Willie J Jackson Scholarship. Visitation will take place at 9:00 AM-3:00 PM Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 535 Cathay Street, Saginaw, MI 48601 with a private funeral service commencing at 3:00 PM. Pastor Dennis Laffoon will officiate. Interment will take place in Memorial Park Cemetery, Tyler, TX. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, will conduct a service at 3:15 p.m.

Mrs. Mary Lois Jackson

January 23, 1942 - September 23, 2020