Willie J. Jackson Sr.

EASTON - Willie James Jackson Sr. passed away at his home on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006.

He was the son of the Lessie Mae Jackson and the late James Bruce Jackson. Mr. Jackson was born on Oct. 22, 1947, in Montgomery, Ala.

"Jackson," as he was affectionately called by his friends and family, grew up in Montgomery, Ala., Fort Walton Beach, Fla. and Bronx, N.Y. He graduated from Morris High School, in the Bronx, on June, 1966. He also attended college at Wor Wic Tech in Salisbury.

Mr. Jackson joined the military on Sept. 20, 1967, and was honorably discharged, retiring on Oct. 31, 2003 from active duty.

During his 27-year stay in the U.S. Army, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, and he had successfully completed 2D Battalion 175th Infantry NCO Leadership Development Program. He completed his military career in the Maryland National Guard and was appointed to Staff Sergeant. After completing his military career in Maryland, he completed the rest of his military career in the Delaware Army National Reserves with a total of 38 years of service.

During that time he was awarded the Civil Disturbance Leader"s Course, Rites of Passage Certificate, Certificate of Appreciation, and was appointed to Sergeant First Class, Grecian Firebolt 2003 "Striking Back with Connectivity," Certificate of Appreciation and Delaware Army National Guard Organizational Crest. Mr. Jackson was a veteran of the Vietnam War, Korean Conflict, Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

His place of employment upon retiring from the military was McCord"s Laundry.

He was united in marriage to the former Brenda Roberts on May 22, 1992, in Easton.

Mr. Jackson is survived by his wife, Brenda Roberts Jackson of Easton; his mother, Lessie Mae Jackson of Dover, Del.; three brothers, Harold Jackson (Helen) of Phoenix, Ariz., Willie Ray Jackson (Debbie) of Hartley, Del. and Mickey Jackson of Springfield, Mass.; three sisters, Jeanette Kersh of Indianapolis, Ind., Linda Williamson of Atlanta, Ga. and Dorothy Pride of Detroit, Mich.; four children, Marlene Hamlin (Maurice) of Baltimore, Willie Jackson Jr. (Sissy), Lesley Jackson of Cambridge, and Kasandra Jackson McMillion (Larry) of Rantoul, Ill.; three stepsons, Derek Roberts (Kathy) of Cockeysville; special agent Carl Barnett Jr. (Deidra) of White Plains, and Darnell L. Jacobs of Trappe; a goddaughter, Jasmine Walker of Wilmington, Del.; father in-law, Harry E. Roberts Sr. (Edna) of St. Michaels; stepfather-in-law, Bishop Arthur Cofield Sr. of Chicago, Ill.; three brothers-in-law, Harry E. Roberts Jr. (Sharon) of Ridgely, Sydney Cofield (Bea) of Chicago, Ill. and Robert Levi Cofield of Norfolk, Va.; two sisters-in-law, Vanessa Roberts of St. Michaels, and Tracilyn Cofield of Chicago, Ill.; 19 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; 39 nieces and nephews; 32 great-nieces and nephews and a number of cousins; two aunts, Gloria Harris (John) of Newtown, Frances Mills of Grasonville; an uncle, O.C. Deveridge (Dorothy) of Dolomite, Ala.; three special friends, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Reid of New Castle, Del. and Roberta Smith of Easton.

He was preceded in death by his father, James Jackson; two sisters, Annie L. Forman and Joyce Rodriquez

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, at Union Baptist Church in Easton. Burial will follow in the Veterans" Cemetery at Beulah at 1:30 p.m.

There will be a viewing tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church.

Arrangements are being handled by the Henry Funeral Home, P.A., in Cambridge.