“Yea, though I walk the valley of the shadow of death…”   – Psalms 23:4
Services for Tawanda Jackson, 44, of Picayune, will be held Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Matthews Baptist Church where Rev. Dr. Michael Kelley is Pastor. The Reverend Clinton Baker is officiating at the service.
Tawanda Yvette Jackson was born on June 8, 1971 in Picayune to Cephus Jackson, Jr. and the late Zellena Arlene Bender.
Tawanda was baptized at an early age at St. Matthews Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend E. J. Woodard. She was crowned Queen of the Pastor’s Aide when her grandmother (the late Pearlie Bender) served as president.
Tawanda was a member of the Picayune Memorial High School graduating class of 1989. While in school, Tawanda was very active in pageants and talent shows. She was crowned Queen of the Shades of Ebony Civic and Social Club where she received an education scholarship. She attended Alcorn State University. She later accepted a position as a teacher’s aide at Picayune Headstart (MAP). She then relocated to Gulfport, MS where she was the manager of the Salvation Army surplus store until her health failed.
Tawanda Yvette Jackson transitioned to her heavenly home on February 4, 2016 at Garden Park Memorial Hospital, Gulfport, MS, embraced by her loving family. She was preceded in death by her mother, Zellena Bender; maternal grandparents, Leonard G. & Annie Pearl Baker Bender; and paternal grandfather, Cephus Jackson, Sr.
She leaves to cherish her love and memories, her daughter, Tivoli Arlene Jackson, of Gulfport, MS; her father & step-mother, Cephus, Jr. & Donna Jackson, of Jonesboro, GA; two sisters, Monica (Greg) Jackson-Marcotte, of Tampa, FL and Kia Jenell (Anton) Dawson, of Germantown, MD; two uncles, Leonard George (Pat) Bender, Jr., of Picayune, MS, and Percy Manning, of Gulfport, MS; three aunts, Joyce Jackson (Raymond) Russell, of Prichard, AL, Cordelia Jackson Knox, of Montgomery, AL, and Sharon Jackson (Frank) Philpott, of Hogansville, GA; paternal grandmother, Darnell Jackson Abner, of Montgomery, AL; a devoted friend, Henry Williams, of Gulfport, MS; and a host of cousins and friends.
Visitation will be Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at Brown’s Funeral Home Chapel from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 11, 2016 at St. Matthews Baptist Church from 10:00 -11:00 a.m. Interment will be in Picayune Cemetery. Entrusted to Brown’s Funeral Home.