Alma Jean Jackson

Redding, CA

December 3, 1931

to

October 14, 2017

Alma was born in Priscilla, Texas. In the early 1940, she and her mother, grandmother and two siblings traveled to California where they reunited with her stepfather who had already arrived in northern California to seek employment.

Their family originally settled in a lumber camp east of Redding, California but eventually made Redding their permanent home.

She attended Shasta High School from 1946 to 1950 where she excelled academically and athletically. She was the high school swim team but decided to quit the team after an incident of a racial nature occurred. Going forward she decided to apply herself more toward her academic goals.

After graduating from Shasta High School, she attended Vallejo College in Vallejo, California, September 1950. While at Shasta High School she met and fell in love with her future husband, Clarence Elijah Jackson. After having attended Vallejo College for only a year she made a decision that would change her entire life. She left college and married her college sweetheart August 26, 1951. They were together until his death February 21, 2008.

In March 1952 she had her first child; Jackie Marie Jackson and two years later she had her second child Lynda Faye Jackson in April 1954. Many years later after both of her children had graduated from high school she decided to go back to college to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. In the fall of 1972 she enrolled in Shasta College where she pursued a A.A. Degree in Science. She graduated from Shasta College in June 1974.

She had hoped to enroll in the nursing program at Shasta College but there were no vacancies for the upcoming fall semester. Of course, she was disappointed, but she was not going to let a little thing like no vacancies get in her way. She applied at both the Merritt College nursing program in Oakland, California and the program at Modesto College. In early 1975 she moved to Oakland, California. Her husband stayed behind to tie up loose ends regarding their move. Several years passed and during that time she got employment a Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, California working in their Central Supply Department. When she received notification that she had been accepted into the nursing program at Merritt College. She entered the program in the Fall of 1977 and graduated June 1980.

She took her state boards in later that year and passed. Got her R.N. license and started working for Kaiser Hospital in 1980 until her retirement in 1997.

In June 1997 she and her husband moved back to Redding where they started their construction on their retirement home on property they purchased early on in their marriage.

She will be remembered for her sharp intelligence, for being a highly accomplished mother and loving grandmother. She had undying devotion to her siblings, children and her spouse. Often, she would open her house to the less fortunate. Her generosity often had no limits.

On Saturday October 14, 2017 she went home to be with the Lord.

She is survived by her two children; Jackie Marie Jackson of San Ramon, California and Lynda Faye Jackson of Redding, California. Grandson Terrence Zachary Harvey of Redding, Great Grandson Jaquan Terrence Harvey of Stockton, California. Her siblings she leaves behind include; Curtis Brooks of Elk Grove, California, Eva Brooks Threatt, Katherine Brooks, and Marine Brooks all of Sacramento, California with exception of Florine Paulsen who resides in Anderson, California. Cousins Corrine Sadler Gaston, Catherine Sadler Gaston, of Houston Texas. Zelma Carry and Mary Maxie of Dallas, Texas and Beatrice Hall-Dixon of California City, California. And finally, a host of nieces and nephews who reside in Redding, Elk Grove, Sacramento, and the bay area.

Friends and family are invited to attend her services at MC DONALD'S CHAPEL, 1275 Continental Street, Redding, California 96001. October 27, 2017 @ 12noon. Reception to follow at the Veterans Hall located 1605 Yuba Street, Redding, CA. PRIVATE VIEWING FOR FAMILY ONLY: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.