Nathaniel Clayton Jackson

Born in September 1925 on a tobacco farm in New Bern, North Carolina the second of seven children. Nathaniel, Nat to most, but Nate or Buddy to many, and Papa Sunshine to a few, shuttled between farm life and the city life in Brooklyn, NY, before joining the Navy during World War II. Briefly serving on a PT boat in the Atlantic theater, Nat spent much of his service in the Philippines and then on the USS Mercy, a hospital ship in the Pacific, tending to the patients and those serving them by filling their stomach with food as a cook, and their spirits with his good cheer.

Having been “tricked” by his sister to re-enroll in university and not reupp in the service, Nat graduated from North Carolina A&T with a degree in Science in 1950. He became a science teacher . He furthered his education later in life receiving a Master’s Degree in Education from Long Island University in 1990.

Nat began his career and mission of helping others by teaching and coaching football at a Presbyterian school and medical clinic on the Navajo Nation's reservation in Ganado, AZ. While keeping his promise to his winning football team, he met by chance met his wife, Geraldine, a young nurse there, while cooking traditional bbq mutton for his winning team.

Returning to the East Coast in the early 1960s with his then fiancée, Nat led with his actions the fight for racial equality, including taking part on The Great March on Washington, crossing the racial divide and marrying his wife, and raising a multicultural family.

Nat continued in service educating thousands of students as a science teacher for Woodcliff Middle School for over 30 years, and also serving faithfully in different roles at the then vibrant United Church of Spring Valley including the Rockland Interfaith Breakfast Program where he was known as “Chef”.

He is predeceased, by his wife of 45 years, Geraldine K. Jackson, 3 sisters Lovely, Mary & Sylvia, and his brother, Allen Jackson. Celebrating his passing is his children, Marilyn and Rodney, his daughter-in-law, 2 brothers, Randolph and Jackie, and 2 grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Family and friends may gather at Wanamaker & Carlough Funeral Home, 177 Route 59, Suffern, NY 10901 on Friday, 12/30 from 6 to 8pm. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday 12/31 at 10am at United Church of Spring Valley, 11 E Church Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977. Interment to follow at Frederick Loescher Veterans Memorial Cemetery, New Hempstead, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Rockland Interfaith Breakfast Program c/o Helping Hands; P.O. Box 249; Nyack, NY 10960 or (www.helpinghandsofrockland.org), and indicate donations is for RIBP in memory of Nathaniel Jackson

As Nat would say, please, please be kind to yourself.