Dr. James L. Jackson

Dr. James Leonard Jackson was born October 17, 1932, in Farmersville, TX, to Leonard Jackson and Murl Logan Jackson and passed away September 16, 2017, in Nashville, TN. He is predeceased by his parents, and two brothers and a sister, Rayford Jackson, Gerald Jackson, and Francis Finley. He is survived by his wife, Pat, of Nashville; son, Jon Jackson (Sloan), of Nashville; daughter, Juli (Alan) Beck, of Kingston Springs; five grand-children, Bleu and Ruthie Jackson, Paige Jackson, Taylor and Chase Beck, and by numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives. After graduating as Valedictorian of the Class of 1950 at Farmersville High School, he left home to attend Abilene Christian College. He received a B.S. from ACC (1954), a M.Mus.Ed. from University of North Texas (1960) and a D.Mus.Ed from University of Oklahoma (1970). He served as Choral Director in public schools in San Angelo and Garland, TX, and in private schools in Abilene and Dallas, TX. He taught music classes at University of Oklahoma, Christian College of the Southwest, Community College, and for the last 17 years of his teaching career he served and Professor of Music and Chairman of the Department of Music at Lipscomb University. After his retirement from Lipscomb, he worked as a Consultant in the Tennessee State Department of Education for three years and worked as a Licensed Realtor in Davidson County for ten years. During his professional years he also worked in City Administration for the City of Garland, TX; as Dean of Christian Schools, Inc. and was the first employee and lone administrator of Christian College of the Southwest during its first 3 years. He served as Dean of Students at CCS for 6 years. From 1955 – 57 he served in the US Army in France. In 1960, he married Pat Carter, who has been his life’s companion for 57 years. From 1948, he served churches of Christ as Minister of Music in Farmersville, Mineral Wells, Eastland, San Angelo, Garland, and Dallas, TX, and in Nashville, TN. He also served as Youth Minister, Education Minister, Deacon, and Elder. After retirement, he started the Gran-Timers, the senior adult ministry at the Granny White church. In 2007 he organized the Bellevue Community Chorus and directed the group until December 2013, when he concluded sixty years of choral conducting, and became Director Emeritus of the chorus. Viewing opportunities will be held at Woodlawn Roesch-Patton Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, and Thursday, September 21, 2017, from two o’clock to four o’clock each day. Family and friends will gather for visitation at Granny White Church of Christ on Thursday, September 21, 2017, from six-thirty to eight o’clock in the evening and again on Friday, September 22, 2017, from twelve-thirty to two-thirty in the afternoon. Funeral service to follow on Friday at two-thirty at the church. Interment to take place at Woodlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Granny White Church of Christ, the Lipscomb University Department of Music, or to the Healing Hands International Jim Jackson Memorial Well in Haiti.