Phyllis Jackson

Celebration of Life - Phyllis Lawson Jackson

Phyllis Lawson Jackson was born in Yellow Springs, Ohio on September 26, 1924 and passed-away on July 11, 2020. She was predeceased by her parents Albert and Ruth Lawson; her three brothers James, Nathaniel, Reginald; and her husband, Theodore.

Following graduation from Bryan High School she began a 38-year career at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. She met Theodore (Ted) Jackson when a co-worker invited her to visit their family in Mansfield, Ohio. Ted and Phyllis united in marriage in September 1948 and enjoyed 64 years of marriage. From their union are two children: Kevin A. Jackson, and Kimberly A. Jackson.

During her childhood Phyllis spent many weekends and summers with extended family in Springfield Ohio and was active at North Street African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. She joined Central Chapel AME Church of Yellow Springs in 1943 and was a devoted church archivist and missionary. In 1944 she became a member of the Victorettes, a local service group of young African American women active during the latter years of World War II. Beyond her church service in Yellow Springs, Mrs. Jackson was an active member of the Friends for Payne, a philanthropic organization to support Payne Theological Seminary.

Phyllis was once asked where she would want to live if not in Yellow Springs.  Being the fifth generation of her family in Yellow Springs she could not think of anywhere she would rather reside. Her community involvement included being an organizing member of the Women’s Park and co-author of the book Celebrating Women. Additionally, she volunteered at the Senior Center as a driver and flexercise instructor. Phyllis was awarded a ‘Senior Leader Award’ in 2013 by the Greene County Council on Aging. The same year she was inducted into the Greene County Women’s Hall of Fame. Phyllis was a 2019 recipient of the Martin Luther King Day Peacemaker Award.

History and genealogy were passions for Phyllis, and she was active with a number of such organizations in the region. A ‘go to’ resource on the history of Blacks in Yellow Springs she provided research on Wheeling Gaunt, Coretta Scott King, and was an editor for The 365 Project Blacks in Yellow Springs Encyclopedia.

To cherish her memory are son Kevin (Jacquise) Jackson, daughter Kimberly Jackson, grandsons Derick (Samantha) Jackson, Jason (LaQuita) Jackson, and great-grandchildren Kingston, Jaceyon, and Ja’Zira, one brother-in-law Paul (Evelyn) Jackson, one sister-in-law Eugenia Bautista, as well as nieces and nephews. A private graveside service was held on Wednesday, July 15, 2020. A drive-through Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at Central Chapel AME Church, 411 S. High St., beginning at 11:00 am. in lieu of flowers a donation to either Central Chapel AME Church, 411 S. High St., Yellow Springs, OH, 45387; https://www.ccamechurch.org/The 365 Project, P.O. Box 165, Yellow Springs, OH 45387; https://www.the365projectys.org

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