Annie Fair Shumate Jackson

Annie Shumate Jackson, the youngest of four daughters, was born on March 16, 1935 to Clyde and Margaret Gardner Shumate of Greenville, South Carolina. Ann was an honor student at Sterling High School, where she was in choir and served as head majorette. Ann matriculated to Clark College in 1953 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. In 1954, she became a member of the Alpha Pi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Ann received her master’s degree in Education from Atlanta University in 1964 and completed post graduate work at New York University.

Ann was married to Ira L. Jackson for 30 years and had two children, Lynn Jackson Stafford and Ira L. Jackson, Jr. Ann’s greatest joy was being a mother. She taught her children to love God and learning, and to work hard and respect all people. Ann did not meet a stranger and was fiercely independent. As a teacher in DeKalb County and Atlanta Public Schools, she taught social studies and math, and never raised her voice. She worked with the Girls Club and Economic Opportunity Atlanta before joining the state government. Ann served as a Child Care Consultant with the Division of Family & Children Services and retired after 30 years of service.

She enjoyed travel, wine tasting, and playing contract bridge. She was a member of the Casual Clique Bridge Club, the 160s, and the Sister Girls. She especially enjoyed watching her four grandchildren grow and prepared Sunday brunch for them for years. She was blessed to see them mature into young adults and was very proud of their unique talents and individuality.

Ann was a parishioner of the Cathedral of Christ the King Catholic Church for more than 30 years. She was active in the St. Margaret Mary Circle and the Adoration Chapel Guardians, and served on the Funeral Committee as a Eucharistic minister. Ann loved the quiet of the early Mass, her pew partners, and the Lord.

She is survived by her daughter Lynn Jackson Stafford and son Ira Jackson Jr., son-in-law Patrick Stafford, daughter-in-law Sonya Joi Bacote Jackson, granddaughters Jordan Bacote Jackson of Washington, DC, Maegann Elizabeth Stafford of Atlanta, and Ryan Shumate Jackson of New York City, grandson Toren Jackson Stafford of Nashville, sister Bobbie Louise Fuller, niece Renee Banks, and a host of relatives and friends.

The funeral will be held on Thursday, March 19, 2020, 10:00am, Cathedral of Christ the King Catholic Church, 2699 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia.