James Melvin Jackson
James Melvin Jackson, 86, died Thursday, June 2, 2011, in Brandon.
Funeral services will be held Monday, June 6, at the Chapel of 1st Baptist Church, Starkville, with Rev. Chip Stevens and Rev. Clifton Curtis of Starkville, officiating. Interment will follow at Wake Forest Baptist Church Cemetery, Sturgis. Welch Funeral Home, Starkville, was in charge of arrangements.
From Oct. 2001 until Feb. 25, 2011, he lived at Ridgeland PTE Assisted Living Center. Mr. Jackson was born on his family’s farm in Copiah County, July 18, 1924 to the late Jim and Clara Hutson Jackson. After he finished high school and Co-Lin Jr. College in Wesson, he entered Mississippi College in Clinton, on academic and work scholarships. He was very proud to be the official “Bell-Ringer” for the college, and eagerly ran across campus every hour to ring the big school bell to mark the start each class every day.
He served in the Unites States Army during WW II between his years at Co-Lin and the last two at MC. He later married Vivian Pauline Nason of Sturgis.
Mr. Jackson earned his Master of Arts in Ed. Degree at the then called “Miss Southern College,” Hattiesburg, in 1956.
He retired after 38 ¾ years of service to the school children of Mississippi, his last position being principal of Starkville’s Overstreet Elementary School.
Mr. Jackson accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior when he was 11 years old, being baptized in the “Baptizing Creek” (Case Creek) near his church, Sylvarena Baptist, Copiah Co., the church two sets of his of his grandparents and a pair of his great-grandparents helped to establish in 1898.
Mr. Jackson was preceded in death by his wife, Polly of 56 years; his older sister, Opal Jackson Thompson, and his younger brother, Billy Jackson.
Survivors include: his daughters Marcia Jackson Cloman (Jim) of Madison Co., and Susan Jackson Summy (Bruce) of Katy, Texas; sister, Helen Jackson Freeman of Indianapolis, Ind.; grandchildren: Dr James F. Cloman IV (Allison) of Richmond, VA; Rebecca Cloman Ryness (Gar) Los Angeles, CA, Courtney Cloman Glynn (Mike) Phoenix, AZ; Stephen Summy (Annah Mary), Germantown, TN, Erin Summy Martin (Lee), Brandon, and Erica Summy Guillory (Josh), Pearl; and ten great-grandchildren, with the eleventh to arrive in August.
Flowers or memorials to 1st Baptist Church, Music Ministry may be sent to 1st Baptist Church, 106 E. Lampkin St., Starkville, MS 39759 .
Pallbearers: Dr. James F. Cloman IV, George Allison Ryness IV, Stephen Anthony Summy, Lee Martin, Josh Guillory, Randle Varnado, John Nason III, Glen Magee, Jr.
Honorary pallbearers: Mike Glynn, Zane Glynn, John D. Nason II, Walter Rhodus, Johnny Ball, Rev. Oliver C. Ladnier, G.B. Steele, Bain Sunday School Class members, and all of the school children touched by the life of Melvin Jackson.
You can go online and sign our guest register at www.welchfuneralhomesinc.com
