Visitation; Thursday, December 12, 2013 12-5 PM; Long Beach Colonial Mortuary 638 Atlantic Avenue; Long Beach, CA.

Service; Friday, December 13, 2013 11:00 AM; Gospel Memorial C.O.G.I.C. 1480 Atlantic Avenue; Long Beach, CA.

Interment; Monday, December 16, 2013; 12:45 PM Staging Area #4; Riverside National Cemetery 22495 Van Buren Blvd; Riverside, CA.

Obituary

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God…
Hebrews 12:14

William Thomas Jackson, Sr. was born on September 15, 1930 in Alice, Texas. His parents were James and Earline (Johnson) Jackson. He was the eldest of four children. Both parents and one daughter ~Linda Terrell~ preceded him to glory. Reared by his aunt he attended Haynes Temple COGIC in Mexia, Texas. While in Dunbar high school he met the beautiful Ms. Doris Faye Chambers and on September 29, 1951 he would go on to marry his high school sweetheart. In 1952 Elder Jackson was drafted into the Marine Corps and after completing initial training at Camp Pendleton he was stationed at Terminal Island in Long Beach, California and was joined by his lovely wife later that year. After eight years in the Marine Corps he was honorably discharged in 1960. Both husband and wife joined White Rose COGIC under the pastor Samuel Tillman in 1953 at the annual Christmas revival. Elder Jackson received the precious gift of the HOLY GHOST on the altar that very day and as his pastor Elder Tillman would say "He came up preaching!!!!!"

After a brief period as an employee at the Long Beach Veterans hospital he went to the American Barber College, received his degree and became an entrepreneur for 25 years owning his own barber shop ~Jackson's Better Looks~ right here in Long Beach. Many people not only got a professional haircut there but also sound biblical advice that would touch their lives for many years to come. People visiting from out of town would experience the kind of "Down home" hospitality that they were used to from back home!!!

Elder Jackson accepted the calling to the ministry, was ordained as an Elder in the Church of God In Christ and served with all his might faithfully for more than 50 years ~ He seemed to think, even as an Elder, that there was no job too small for he was a laborer. He was appointed pastor of White Rose COGIC by then jurisdictional prelate Bishop Charles E. Blake and for 25 years worked tirelessly preaching his charge given by the gospel of Jesus Christ thereby winning many souls to Christ!!! For a number of years he also served as assistant superintendent to Elder W.A. Smith of the Light of The World District.

He leaves to cherish him in memory, a loving wife of 62 years, Doris Faye Jackson; two siblings Robert Johnson of Longmont, Colorado and Lorene Keeste of Denver, Colorado; three surviving children Sherry (Theodore) McKinley of Riverside, CA, William Jackson, Jr. of Las Vegas, Nevada and Andrea (Toquon) Jackson~ Slaughter of Signal Hill, CA; 13 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, nieces, nephews, cousins; church family and due to his hospitable, caring persona he had a host of friends throughout Long Beach and many other cities in the United States.