Theodora Ward Jackson

I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7 EHV)

With heavy hearts and immeasurable sorrow, the Jackson, Ward, Anderson, and Witherspoon families announce the peaceful passing of our beloved mother, sister, aunt, and cousin Theodora Colombe Josephine Ward Jackson in her 89th year. This sad event occurred on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at Atrium Health Pineville Hospital in Pineville, North Carolina.

Dean Jackson was an outstanding educator, tutor, and mentor to many, and she was a devout Christian.

Theodora is survived by her daughters Laurene Murrell, (Jefferey), Victoria C. Jackson, Ellen Rice, Josephine Smallwood (Ben), Joanna Jackson, Eva Wright, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren, grandnieces, grandnephews, other relatives, in-laws, and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband General Abraham C. Jackson, Sr.; her parents Rev. Dr. T. Ebenezer Ward and Sarah Josephine Anderson Ward; her brothers William E. Ward, Victor E. Ward, and Rev. Dr. Ernest S. B. Ward; and her foster brothers Wilmot Ward, Moses Ward, Nahor Ward, John Ward, and Sammy Ward.

Services over the remains of Theodora Ward Jackson will be as follows:

Friday, January 5, 2024 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. EST

For live streaming of the wake, visit

https://youtube.com/@wardfund4755?si=04JCC3SRaELJGU1P

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063703136480&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Funeral/Homegoing Celebration

Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 10 a.m. EST

Hickory Grove United Methodist Church

6401 Hickory Grove Road

Charlotte, NC 28215

The repast will be held at South Charlotte Banquet Center on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 1:30 p.m.

No wreaths or flowers are required. Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.

In Loving Memory of Theodora Ward Jackson, Former Dean of the Teachers College of the University of Liberia – TLC Africa:

https://www.tlcafrica1.com/in-loving-memory-of-theodora-ward-jackson-former-dean-of-the-teachers-college-of-the-university-of-liberia/

Life Sketch of Theodora Colombe Josephine Ward Jackson

Theodora was born to the union of Rev. Dr. Thomas Ebenezer Ward and Sarah Josephine Anderson Ward on June 27, 1934, in Monrovia, Liberia. She was the third of four children and the only girl. Growing up, Theodora was a tomboy and enjoyed playing with her three brothers.

Sarah Josephine home-schooled Theodora until the sixth grade. Upon completion of her junior and senior high school education, Theodora matriculated to the University of Liberia, where she earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts in 1954. Subsequently, she traveled to the United States of America and earned a (1) bachelor of science degree in physical science and a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from California State Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo, California, in 1959; (2) mathematics for teachers' program certificate from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1963; and (3) master of science degree in rural education with a specialization in science education from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, in 1965.

Upon her graduation from Cornell University, Theodora did not explore opportunities to work in the United States. Instead, she chose to return to Liberia to serve her country as an educator. The same year, she was hired by the University of Liberia. In 1969, Theodora married General Abraham C. Jackson Sr., a father of eight; and their union was blessed with three children: Laurene, Victoria, and Ellen. Theodora was dearly loved by her children and stepchildren.

Theodora served at the University of Liberia for 25 years: She was (1) a science instructor at the T. J. Faulkner College of Science and Technology and the William V. S. Tubman Teachers College (WTTC) from September 1965 to March 1973; (2) chairperson of the Department of Elementary Education of the WTTC from April 1973 to November 1975; (3) dean of the WTTC from November 1975 to August 1984; and (4) professor of science education of the WTTC from September 1984 to May 1990.

Theodora's work as an educator extended beyond the campuses of the University of Liberia. Here are a few examples: From 1973 to 1984, she organized and coordinated several in-service workshops for teaching science and mathematics at the elementary level in Liberia. From 1981 to 1984, she served as a member and subsequently as the vice chairperson of Liberia's national board of teacher certification. In 1982, she participated in a seminar on teachers' education for the 1990s in the Netherlands. In 1984, she represented the WTTC at a conference on education in developing countries in Thailand. From 1984 to 1990, she served as a resource person at workshops for teachers organized by local schools.

Theodora left Liberia in 1990 because of its bloody civil war and traveled to Freetown, Sierra Leone. After an 8-month stay in Freetown, she travelled to the United States in August 1991.

In the US, she continued her work as an educator. As a freelance tutor in New York, she tutored college students taking courses in precalculus, elementary calculus, discrete mathematics, and business statistics from 1993 to 1997. The following year she was employed at the School of New Resources of the College of New Rochelle in Manhattan, New York. There she served as (1) a mentor, a tutor, and an adjunct at the New York Theological Seminary campus from fall 1998 to spring 2003 and (2) an adjunct at the Rosa Parks and Brooklyn campuses from 2004 to 2005.

In 2005, Theodora relocated from New York to Georgia to be closer to her daughter Ellen. Two years later, she moved into her own home, purchased for her by her daughter Victoria and adjacent to Ellen's home. After 10 years in Georgia, Theodora joined Victoria in Oakland, California. Shortly thereafter, they relocated to Colorado, where they lived for 2 years. In 2017, Theodora and Victoria relocated back to California. In 2021, they relocated to North Carolina so that Theodora could be closer to Laurene and Ellen, family, and friends.

Theodora received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age. She obeyed the Lord's command not to forsake the assembly of the brethren (Hebrews 10:25) and was a member of three Methodist churches in her lifetime:

1. First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in Monrovia, Liberia, from 1950 to 1991. There she managed the J. J. Roberts United Methodist School fund and served on the administrative council, which helped run the church.

2. Faith United Methodist Church in Staten Island, New York, from 1996 to 2005. There she volunteered in the front office and helped prepare the Sunday bulletin.

3. Snellville United Methodist Church in Snellville, Georgia, from 2006 until her passing. There she served as a scripture reader at church special events and volunteered in the church's library to shelve books.

Theodora was an excellent cook. Her specialties included jollof rice, cassava leaf, peanut soup, split peas with ribs, rice bread, shortbread, and cornbread. She enjoyed trying new recipes and coming up with her own.

Theodora was a hard worker. She was constantly on the lookout for work to do around the house. She insisted on cooking her own food, doing her own laundry, and cleaning the house.

Theodora enjoyed keeping in touch with family, friends, and other loved ones. She made sure to call them on their birthday. She maintained a birthday list, and every month, she would review it and print out the birthdays in that month. Then she would call all the persons on her printout on their birthday and wish them a happy birthday. In fact, the day before she passed, although she was very tired, she mustered the strength to call her niece Izetta to wish her a happy birthday.

Theodora enjoyed ministering to others. If she knew that family members or friends were down, she would do what she could to help uplift them. For example, she would encourage them from the Word of God, prepare food for them, and check on them often.

Theodora sowed love, so she reaped it. She was dearly loved. She would get numerous phone calls, text messages, and greeting cards from family and friends for her birthday or a key holiday (e.g., Christmas, Easter). In fact, she was affectionately dubbed "Grand Central" by a cousin: While that cousin was visiting her, Theodora's phone rang constantly due to calls from family and friends, and the name stuck.

Theodora enjoyed playing games and solving puzzles not only to relax but also to keep her mind sharp. For example, she played Scrabble and was a pro at it; she even beat the computer sometimes! She would tackle gleefully the New York Times Spelling Bee, New York Times Wordle, and other challenging crossword puzzles with Victoria daily.

Theodora did not lose her faculties as she grew older. Even after her retirement, she continued her work as an educator by tutoring younger ones in our family, including her grandnieces Valencia, Diamond, Joy, and Blessing. In fact, she tutored Blessing up to the week before she passed.

Theodora went to be with the Lord on December 13, 2023, after a sudden turn for the worse. She departed this life from Atrium Health Pineville Hospital in Pineville, North Carolina, with Victoria at her side.

She was predeceased by her husband General Abraham C. Jackson Sr.; her parents Rev. Dr. T. Ebenezer Ward and Sarah Josephine Anderson Ward; her brothers William E. Ward, Victor E. Ward, and Rev. Dr. Ernest S. B. Ward; her foster brothers Wilmot Ward, Moses Ward, Nahor Ward, John Ward, and Sammy Ward; and stepchildren Nancy Jackson Hayes, Alexander Jackson, Abraham Jackson Jr., Patricia Jackson, and John Jackson.

Theodora is survived by her daughters Laurene Murrell, (Jefferey), Victoria C. Jackson, Ellen Rice, Josephine Smallwood (Ben), Joanna Jackson, and Eva Wright; godsons J. Wesley Johnson and Ralph Weeks (Lucinda); goddaughter Esther Greene; grandchildren Mercy Hoggard (Elvis), Gilter Hayes, Tonya Cooke, Emmett Hayes (Linda), Ermett Jones, Lela Samuels (Abe), Jackie Diallo (Umaru), Nancy Hayes, Brent Brent Cole (Sean), and Maima Jones (Michael); nieces and nephews William Ward Sr., Glacia Ward Patray, Josephine Ward, Geraldine Ward, Joanna Ward, Vivian E. Ward-Worjloh (Patrick), Delano E. Ward, Sonya Santo (John), Lawrence Ward (Lavita), Terrence Ward (Khala), Anissa Kavanagh (Donnie), Spencer Ward (Lisa), and Jonice Ward (Samuel); sister-in-laws Laura Rhodes Ward and Mai Duncan Ward; and a host of cousins, grandnieces, grandnephews, other relatives, other in-laws, and friends.