William Jackson Jr.

Master Sergeant (Retired) William Jackson Jr. was born September 5, 1949, in Cedartown, Georgia, the son of William Jeffery Jackson and Katherine J. McIntosh. He transitioned to rest in heaven at 11:00 a.m. on December 17, 2020 at Sunrise Medical Center in Las Vegas, NV. William was reared from the age of 7 into adulthood by his mother and his step-father, Woodrow Gordon.

William attended Main High in Rome, Georgia and graduated from Pepperell High School in1969. He earned the nickname of Rabbit in high school due to his reputation of being quick on his feet and fast as a rabbit on the football field. Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army 11 September 1969 with the 97th QMBN USAREUR, Company C Transportation Company. Served in Vietnam from 4 March 1970 to 3 March 1972 in Indochina. As a PV1 (Private First Class) he earned a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal and was an expert m-16 rifleman. He transferred to the United States Army Reserve Control Group in 1972. He enlisted into active-duty 4 November 1974 with HHC 63D Engineer Company, 36th Engineer GP FC at Fort Benning, Georgia.

During his military career William served in Kuwait - Southwest Asia from 14 December 1990 to 14 June 1991, Somalia from 10 January 1993 to 1994 and earned Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, eight (8) Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon and three (3) Army Service Ribbons. Earned Overseas ribbon with four (4) Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. He completed Advanced Noncommissioned Officer’s Course (ANCOC), First (1ST) Sergeant Course and Tactical Army Combat Service Support Computer System (TACCS) course, William Jackson, Jr. retired as a Master Sergeant (MSG) – First Sergeant in March 1995 with over 25 years of service. After his retirement, William served selflessly as a pastor, minister, role-model, and mentor to young men and women in rural Southwestern Georgia and Southern, IL. from 1998-2013.

MSG(RET) William Jackson Jr. leaves behind a blended family with his wife Dr. LaVerne Jackson and 8 children: Sons, William L. Jackson, Dr. Jonathan Jackson, and Day M. Hill Sr., his daughters Kareen Wilbers van den Broek (husband Danny), Carmen Jackson Hayes (husband Josh), Denee Lawton (husband Phillip), Diyana Johnson (husband Tobey), and Krista Harris (husband Ryan). As a blended family, William and LaVerne share 19 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren; Surviving siblings are: Marilyn Gordon, Reginald Gordon, and his wife Jerrie (Wright) Gordon, Zelda (Gordon) Buford and husband Daryl Buford, Justina Gordon and Justin Gordon and wife Chereta (Carter) Gordon. Also surviving are several aunts and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation and funeral services will be held on January 7, 2020 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Palm Mortuary, 1325 No. Main Street, Las Vegas, NV. Burial services with military honors will be held on January 8th at 9:20 a.m. the Southern Nevada Veteran’s Memorial Hospital, 1900 Buchanan Blvd. Boulder City, NV. 89005. Those wishing to remember William in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Support Wounded Warrior project https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org

William’s favorite bible verse

The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. Luke 4:18 NKJV.