Leona Pauline Jackson
6/29/2016
Leona Pauline Jackson, of Warwick, passed away on June 29, 2016 at St. Anthony Community Hospital. She was 104 years old.
She was born on November 19, 1911 in Middletown, N.Y. to Theron and Bertha (Brown) McClary. She was the widow of Wesley Charles Jackson.
Leona has dedicated her life to helping others. In addition to her own children, she raised 29 foster children out of which two were adopted. Since she was always at home, young working parents would ask her to babysit, and she would only charge what they could afford. Many times, single parents didn’t have enough money to pay her and she would babysit for free of charge, never refusing to take care of the children. One of the children she babysat for since he was six weeks old, thought she was his mother up until the age of five.
Leona had always been actively involved in the U.A.M.E. Church, and had served on the Pastor’s Aid, Missionary Society and Willing Workers Club. When the church said they wanted help, Leona was right there.
Leona was selected by the Edwin Gould Foundation of New York, as the most Outstanding Foster Mother for their foundation and honored her with a luncheon at Rockefeller Center in New York City.
Leona was recognized for her dedication to children by being named, “New York State Foster Mother of the Year” in 1984, and was honored with a banquet held in Albany New York.
And in 1989, Channel 13 Public Broadcasting System nominated Leona as one of the outstanding black women in the United States for her involvement with children.
Leona’s favorite past time was reading and game shows. She especially loved Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.
Leona always loved to dance. Even in her 80’s, she would get out on the dance floor, and would tire the young men out.
Leona had dedicated her entire life to giving unselfishly of herself to the community, helping others in difficult times, sharing in good times, and just “being there” for others.
She leaves to cherish three daughters - Lois Woods & husband Joe, Middletown, NY, Sondra Green, Dallas, TX and Beverly Mann, Stroudsburg, PA; four sons - Dennis Jackson, Tucson, AZ, Michael Jackson (caregiver), Warwick, NY, Eric Presley, state of Florida and Ronnie Morris; Barbara Jackson, daughter-in-law, Carla Harris, daughter-in-law and Carl Zemalaowski, son-in-law; Dee Ibrahim, granddaughter(caregiver) and Daryl DeGroat, great grandson(caregiver.) She also leaves 26 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and 35 great, great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.
Leona Jackson was predeceased by her husband, Wesley Jackson; sons, Donnie Jackson, Jerry Jackson and Randy Harris; daughter, Diane Milligan; sister, Amelia Lane; brothers, Harold, George and Clinton McClary; grandson, Brian Jackson and great granddaughter, Samantha DeGroat.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 6th, from 7:00-9:00 pm at Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Ave., Warwick. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday at Union AME Church, Warwick, followed by interment in Warwick Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be sent to Union AME Church, 98 McEwen Street, Warwick, NY 10990.
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