Johnny B. Jackson

Johnny Benton Jackson, Sr. was born April 26, 1944, to the parents of Johnny Edd Jackson and Annie Pearl in Pickens County, Alabama. Later Annie Pearl married James Gilmore and he became Johnny's father figure. As a young man, known as Johnny B., he briefly picked cotton with his siblings until he realized he did not like laboring under the sweltering sun of Alabama. He soon moved on to paint houses and to his best skill, cutting hair. These jobs kept cash in his pocket.

After graduating from Carrollton High School, he enrolled in Stillman College in 1961 where he set his sights on playing basketball. He made the team but soon realized that the players on the team could really play. So, he was a spectator from the bench.

Later, John moved to New York and in April 1965 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force allowed him to travel the world to countries such as Iceland, Japan and Germany. He was stationed in multiple states like New York, Illinois, Montana, and Colorado. He acquired the nickname, "Jack", and honed his skills in "Bid Whist", "Spades", "Dominos", "Table Tennis", and "Pool". The Air Force allowed him to renew his love for basketball while playing on multiple teams no matter where he was stationed.

Jack served twenty-six years in our military as a non-commissioned officer. Which gave him the opportunity to meet the love of his life, Elizabeth Ann Green at Stewart Air Force Base in Newburgh, New York. They married in 1968 and Elizabeth gave birth to two sons, Johnny B. Jackson, Jr. and three years later, Eric LaMonte Jackson. He would say these boys were his greatest gift from God. That was until the grandbabies came along.

John treasured spending time with family and friends. If there was a gathering, he was there in the mix. His love of music was evident with his "reel to reel", "eight track" and "cassette" players. Along with the collection of over 200 albums. H could often be heard humming a Motown tune throughout his day.

After his retirement from the military he settled in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He soon began a daily ritual of attending his favorite church, International House of Pancakes. He was always met with love and adoration from the servers who became an extended family.

Finally, whether we knew him as "Johnny B", "John", "Jack", "Unc", "Uncle Poppy", "Grandad", or "Dad", we knew a good man.

Quoting the words of his caregiver in his latter days, "John Jackson is a good, good man."

John Jackson is survived by ex-wife Elizabeth Jackson of Houston, TX, sons Johnny B. (Lillian) Jackson, Eric (Rebecca) Jackson. Grandchildren: Marquis, Kennedy, Donavan, Aliyah, Sterling, David, Miles, and Violet.

Siblings: Joe (Ingrid) Jackson of Chattanooga, TN, Shirley (Robert) Jackson Hood of Tuscaloosa, AL, Lorenzo Jackson of Huntsville, AL, Sharon Gilmore Windham of Tuscaloosa, AL. A host of nephews and nieces.

Proceeding in death: Bobby Jackson, Sr., Ferman Jackson, and Winston Gilmore.