The Honorable Alphonse Jackson, Jr. of Baton Rouge, passed into eternal life on December 23, 2014 at The Crossing at Clarity Hospice of Baton Rouge. He was 87. Born on November 27, 1927, in Shreveport, Louisiana, he was the son of the late Alphonse Jackson, Sr. and Mattie P. (Beaner) Jackson. As a child, he was known for being intelligent and hard-working and he excelled academically. During the summers he worked on his grandfather's farm picking cotton and baling hay. In later years, he gained entrepreneurial skills at Beaner's Grocery and on the corner of Line Avenue at his father's Phillip's 66 Friendly Service Station. Upon his graduation from Central High School he entered Southern University in Baton Rouge where he was initiated into the Beta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Shortly after signing up for selective service he was drafted into World War II and from 1946 to 1948 he served in the United States Army. He was among the military personnel deployed to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to engage in atomic cleanup operations. Following his honorable discharge from the United States Army he returned to Southern University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies with honors in 1951. Shortly thereafter he matriculated to New York University, earning a Master's of Arts in Secondary Education Administration in 1961 and later completed additional postgraduate studies. He taught Social Studies and English to junior high school students in the Caddo Parish School System in the early 1950s and became Chair of the Social Sciences Department at Central. In that role he planned innovative curriculum for inner city children before being promoted to school administrator. For eighteen years he served as a Principal; first at Central and later at Judson Elementary School. He was among the first African-American principals to be assigned to a predominantly white school during the desegregation of the Caddo School System. In 1960 he was recognized as Educator of the Year for Caddo Parish Schools. In 1962, the Louisiana Education Association presented him with the Citizenship Education Award for Civil Rights Leadership. He went on to serve as president of the statewide teachers' organization and was a pivotal force in the merger of the Louisiana Education Association with the Louisiana Teachers Association. In the early 1970s, when several one-race schools still remained in his school district, he was appointed to the ten-member Biracial Committee to Desegregate Schools in Caddo Parish. He was also one of three men who met with President Richard Nixon to strategize about the best way to successfully integrate Louisiana schools. He also served as a field representative for the National Education Association. His passion for education led him into political advocacy. In 1972, he was elected to serve the people of District 2 in the Louisiana House of Representatives. He was the first black legislator to be elected from Caddo Parish since Reconstruction. Later that year he was named one of the Top Ten Louisiana Legislators. In the following year he was elected as a delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1973. As Chairman of the Committee on Bill of Rights and Elections at the Convention he worked with other delegates to craft the Louisiana Constitution of 1974. It became a blueprint for equal opportunity, fair labor relations, expanded voter participation and greater protections for the individual. This constitution has been called the most significant achievement in Louisiana's history during the twentieth century. In 1973, he was named Shreveport's Man of the Year. He worked with the Louisiana Education Association to investigate civil rights complaints filed by teachers, school personnel and parents. For several years he directed legal defense efforts for professional educators in Louisiana and coordinated the Head Start Program. In 1977, he became one of ten chartering members of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus. During his twenty years in the Legislature he served on the House Education, Judiciary and Education Committees (1972-1980) and the House Appropriations Committee (1974-1980) and he chaired the House Health and Welfare Committee (1980-1992). As a Democratic legislator, he worked closely with Governor Edwin Edwards to manage legislation for the Governor's Office. Outside of the Legislature, he served as President of Jackson, Nicholson and Associates where he coordinated political campaigns and planned public relations and marketing programs at the state and local levels. After his departure from the State Legislature he worked as a Public Affairs Consultant for The Hurst Group, a public relations and government affairs firm. He organized grassroots advocacy campaigns, lobbied the Louisiana Legislature and implemented public relations programs for his clients. For many years he was a member of Zion Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana; more recently he was a member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was a former member and past president of the Delta Upsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He was a Life Member of the NAACP and a Life Member of the Louisiana Association of Educators. The Alphonse Jackson, Jr. Early Childhood Center in Shreveport, Louisiana bears his name. The Shreveport Times named him as one of the one hundred most influential people of northwest Louisiana in the twentieth century. He inspired many talented men and women to enter public service and he leaves a lasting legacy of extraordinary service to the citizens of Louisiana. He dedicated his life to building alliances and to improving the quality of life for the people of Louisiana. He used his power in state politics to push for reforms in education and health care, to fight against discrimination in employment and housing, and to advocate on behalf of underprivileged citizens. To his family he was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle who will be dearly missed. Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of twenty-one years, Glenda Hurst Jackson of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; daughters, Lydia P. Jackson and Angela E. Jackson of Shreveport, Louisiana; stepdaughter, Andrea M. Archie of Atlanta, Georgia; grandson, Jacobi D. Glenn of Atlanta, Georgia; sister, Olive "Ollie" Gibson of Shreveport, Louisiana and father-in-law, Norbert Hurst of New Roads, Louisiana. He is also survived by his former wife, Rubye H. Jackson, the mother of Lydia and Angela, and a host of nieces and nephews who loved their "Uncle Jack". He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Anola and Sam Beaner; parents, Mattie and Alphonse Jackson, Sr.; brother, Samuel L. Jackson; sisters, Shirley Jackson Minor and Gloria G. Jackson; and stepson, James R. Archie II. Visitation will be on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 185 Eddie Robinson, Sr. Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana at 8 a.m. until funeral services commence at 11 a.m. The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Omega Service will begin at 10 a.m. Interment with military honors will follow at Southern Memorial Gardens, 3012 Blount Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Pallbearers will be C. J. Blache, Bradford Edwards, Charles D. Jones, Darryl Minor, Marcus Minor, and Christopher A. Tyson. Honorary pallbearers will be Ervin Archie, Lezli Baskerville, George Lee Beaner, Dr. Joseph Braud, Rose Forrest, Brandon Hudson, Frantz Lubin, Don McKenzie, Harry Minor, Christopher Pilley and Harold B. Porter. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Services of the Capital Area, 3772 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Alphonse Jackson, Jr., was known to me as Mr. Jackson at Central Jr. High School in Shreveport, LA. He taught me Social Studies in 1955 and encouraged me to run for Student Council President. I was a natural born orator but I needed assistance in correct enuciation. Mr. Jackson taught me to enuciate and I became a good orator. I used my God given talent with what Mr. Jackson taught me and used it for God's Glory. I retired from AT&T as a manager in 1998 using those skills. To God be the Glory for his Life and Legacy. I Thank God for his Life that Touched My Life and My Children. I will always remember Mr. Jackson.
Jo Ann Whitted-Herron
January 2, 2015
With deepest sympathy.
Judge James L. Dennis
December 30, 2014
A TRUE GENTLEMAN. A wonderful advocate, teacher, mentor and friend.
Adriane Spencer
December 29, 2014
Wishing you solace in your time of grief. We will keep you in our prayers.
Catonya Bissic
December 27, 2014
He was my mentor at the legislature. If I had a question about strategy or procedure, he was someone I could go to for advice. Whenever we were in a committee room where I had limited wheelchair access, he would always come over to me. Very few people left working the legislature who will help us young folks.
Steve Kauffman
December 27, 2014
The Jackson family will be in my prayers.
Barbara Wilson
December 26, 2014
Louisiana is a state which has so many wonderful people and so many legends in their own time. Alphonse was one of those and shall remain one for ever. He taught me so much about state government and government affairs. A strong man who could have used that strength to control others but he chose to be gentle and fair and as a result he was loved and admire by so many. A real example for us all to follow. Rest in Peace my ole friend. I will see you in the great "here after".
Bill Corley
December 26, 2014
Sincere condolences to your family for your loss. May your cherished memories sustain you. Proverbs 3:4,5
December 25, 2014
May the works I've done speak for me. When I'm resting in my grave, There's nothing more to be said; May the works (the works I've done) Let it speak for me.
RIP thou good & faithful servant. "You done good"
Councilwoman-elect, Stephanie lynch
December 25, 2014
To the Jackson Family: "You can always trust God's Heart even when you can't trace God's Hand."
Rev. J. L. Franklin
December 25, 2014
We only knew Mr. Alphonse for a short time at Our House of Respite, what a man, always ready to shake your hand, a warm greating, we were honored to know him.
Martin & Cynthia Ourso
December 25, 2014
Ollie, my prayers are with you and family at this time. Take care and love you.
Dorothy Wright Wilson
Dorothy Wilson
December 25, 2014
Praying for the family. Continue to be Strong be Encouraged!!!
Dr. Allan Thomas
December 25, 2014
Sonya Collins Landry
December 25, 2014
My condolences to the family of Mr. Alphonse Jackson, Jr. He was a loving and caring educator and a faithful public servant.
Marion Denese Cotton Howard
December 24, 2014
Condolences to the family. Rest in peace good and faithful servant!
Judge sheva Sims
December 24, 2014
TO THE JACKSON FAMILY AND BEANER FAMILIES MY DEEPEST
SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS IN THE LOSS OF YOUR LOVED ONE. HE WAS A WONDERFUL QUIET MANNER
PERSON, WHO ALWAYS SHOWED KINDNESS TOWARD ME WHEN HE FIRST FINISHED COLLEGE AND SUB AT BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
HIGH IN S'PORT, LA. HE WAS MY ENGLISH TEACHER, I WAS SO PROUD OF HIM THEN AT A YOUNG AGE, AND HE CONTINUED TO MAKE HIS FAMILY PROUD OF HIS MANY WONDERFUL ACCOM- PLISHMENTS. RIP IN PEACE IN GOD'S LOVING PRESENCE DEAR COUSIN. FOR THOSE GONE BE-
FORE YOU AWAKES YOU TO WEL- COME YOU TO YOUR HEAVENLY HOME. LOVE YOUR 1ST COUSIN
~MELVA J. BEANER-QUAMINA~
MELVA J. QUAMINA
December 24, 2014
Rest in peace, faithful servant. Swannie Jones, S'port, La.
Swannie Jones
December 24, 2014
Drs. James S. & Dorothy L. Holt
Greatly loved & respected State Civil Rights & education leader.
December 24, 2014
DON & RUBY HORTON
December 24, 2014
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