Donna Atkinson Jackson

Donna Lou Atkinson Jackson, 81, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. Born on January 24, 1940, in Jacksonville, Florida, she was the eldest daughter of Velmon Eston “Dick” Atkinson and Ermine Louise Smith Atkinson.

Mrs. Jackson attended Reinhardt College in Waleska, Georgia and graduated from Shorter College in Rome, Georgia where she majored in religion and minored in elementary education. She married her college sweetheart, Cecil Jackson, in 1965. She was a church secretary and first-grade teacher before the birth of her first child. After staying home for more than a decade to raise her two children, she became an administrative assistant at Spring Valley High School and later an accountant in the district office of Richland County School District Two.

She was a devoted wife who loved traveling and spending time with her husband. They enjoyed driving around the country and visiting historic, quaint and beautiful places. She loved to read and always had a bag full of library books by her side. Although she liked to cook, she came to enjoy eating out even more. She and Cecil had many favorite lunch spots around Columbia, where their favorite servers knew their regular orders as soon as they walked in the door. She was an avid bridge player, having played with the same bridge club for more than 40 years. While she was generally very reserved, she cheered wildly for the University of North Carolina basketball team.

Mrs. Jackson was a loyal and enthusiastic supporter of her children’s activities. She served as a Girl Scout troop leader and a Boy Scout den mom; she drove “mom’s taxi” to her daughter’s dance classes and her son’s soccer practices; she made flags and uniforms for the Spring Valley High School Band colorguard; and she held offices in the band booster club. Even after her children left for college, she went to almost every home football game at their respective universities to see them perform in their college marching bands.

She adored being “Mimi” to her grandchildren, and she showered them with affection. She was gentle, loving and incredibly thoughtful. She greeted everyone around her with a warm smile and a hug. In her memory, do something kind for someone else.

Donna Jackson is survived by her husband of 56 years, Cecil Ernest Jackson; her daughter, Kelly Davis (Jeff) of Columbia; her son, Christopher Jackson (Alexa) of Charlotte; grandchildren Brooke Davis and Julian Salazar; sisters Cheryl Cobb of Jacksonville, Florida and Karen Price of Sarasota, Florida; sister-in-law Melanie Rogers of Marietta, Georgia; nephew Bill Gore (Stacy) of Rome, Georgia; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and cherished friends.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, at 3926 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205. Visitation will follow the service. Guests must wear a mask and maintain a safe social distance throughout the services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, 3401 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29204 or to a charity of one’s choice.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com