Emma Brooks Jackson

Emma Lene Brooks Jackson was born on May 16, 1943 in Waverly, AL to the late Walter Brooks and Annie Pearl Sheally Brooks. She was the fifth child born to this union and the namesake of her paternal aunt Emma Jean Brooks Davis.

The Brooks family moved to Birmingham in the fall of 1948, where they settled in the Ensley neighborhood. As a child, Emma accepted Christ and joined Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorage of Rev. R. L. Jackson. She was an active member of church auxiliary organizations such as Baptist Training Unit, the Angelic Choir, the Young Matrons; and Mission Society.

Emma attended Council Elementary School and graduated from Western Olin High School in 1961. Shortly after finishing Booker T. Washington Business College in 1965 she was among the first African-Americans hired at State Farm Insurance Company in Homewood, AL; where she would eventually retire in 2003 after 36 years of service.

In 1968, Emma married Tommie J. Jackson and to this union their only child Melody Joi Jackson was born in 1972. Emma was a committed and loving mother. She and Melody shared a close relationship that was often commented on by others. In Melody’s teenage years, Emma and Tommie welcomed their bonus daughter, Angela Dionne Conner into their family as a result of Melody and Angela’s undeniable friendship.

Throughout her life, Emma cultivated many wonderful relationships and was a trusted confidant and advisor to all who knew her. Most of all Emma cherished her friendship with Doris Palmore Yancey; from the time they met in their early twenties they were the best of friends and more like family. Emma was fun loving and enjoyable to be around. She loved traveling with her friends and sisters. She was a regular attendee at the National Baptist Conventions and the Gospel Music Workshop of America held annually around the country. She especially enjoyed attending her beloved high school’s class reunion celebrations with her sisters and friends. Above all she loved visiting with her daughter and grandson during the holidays.

As health issues became a concern for Emma, she decided to move to Washington DC in 2015 to be closer to her daughter and spend precious time with her grandson Bobby. Emma cherished the time she had with Bobby, he became her little helper and she saved him from punishment from his many shenanigans. She would often comment on how smart, funny and caring she thought Bobby was.

On May 27, 2019, Emma transitioned from this earthly life at her daughter’s home in Washington, DC. Peace and love was upon her with Melody and Angela by her side.

Emma was preceded in death by her parents, Walter L. Brooks, and Annie Pearl Brooks; her brothers, Freeman Doss and Eugene Doss; her sister, Bobbie Brooks Gaines; and her husband Tommie J. Jackson.

After a beautiful and blessed life, she leaves to cherish her memories a loving family; daughter, Melody Jackson and grandson Robert ‘Bobby’ Wines, III; her sisters, Nellie Shaw, Juanita Jones and Margaret Brown (Willie); her brother-in-laws, Larry Jackson, Richard Jackson, and Walter Gaines; and her sister-in-law, Marcia Doss; seven nieces and six nephews. She is also survived by three special daughters in love Angela Conner (Grandsons: Tyan Smith and Jerald Peals), Connie Williams (Dennis), and Felicia Edge.