Thomas “Tommy” Leroy Jackson was born in Murphy, North Carolina (USA) and died of natural causes on Thursday, August 26th, 2004 at 68 years old. After spending more than half of his life in the Washington, DC (USA) metropolitan area, he decided to make his final home in the most populous city in the U.S. state of Alabama. Nestled in the American South, Huntsville became Mr. Jackson’s tranquil sanctuary, offering a secluded respite on a serene farm and sprawling estate he acquired prior to relocating from the bustling corridors of Washington, D.C., to the pastoral landscapes of Alabama in the United States.
During his formative years, this determined young man honed his athleticism through boxing and basketball at Texana High School in Cherokee County, North Carolina. Later, he ventured to Gary, Indiana, where his creative passions blossomed. Immersed in the areas vibrant musical and cultural landscape, this devoted music lover cultivated a deep affinity with jazz music and dedicated himself to mastering the tenor saxophone, an instrument he would eventually command with virtuosic skill.
Tommy joined the U.S. Armed Forces at a young age, embarking on a distinguished two-decade military career that spanned both, the U.S. Army and Navy, where he earned accolades as a decorated and respected serviceman. During the early years of his service, he pursued higher education, graduating from the University of Maryland with dual degrees, with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in psychology. Alongside his military commitments, he emerged as an influential advocate in the Civil Rights Movement and became a registered member of the Nation of Islam’s Mosque Number 4 in Washington, D.C., reflecting his dedication to social justice and equality.
Following his extensive international deployments, this career-focused soldier transitioned to a pivotal role as Equal Opportunity (EO) Administrator at the Pentagon, where he championed policies to foster fairness, diversity and inclusion across the U.S. Armed Forces, leaving a lasting legacy in shaping equitable environments for service members and civilian personnel alike.
During his distinguished military career, Tommy supported various military and defense-related activities in Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy, before retiring to civilian status in October 1993, where he continued to consult the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) as a specialist in Human Behavior.
This insightful military administrator established an impressive family that was rooted in both, love and resilience by the example his parents, Kell Ellis Jackson and Mattie Bell Saunders Jackson set. He is survived by Mary Lou Barber Jackson, a retired and highly decorated Professor of English Literature, whose legacy of scholarship and dedication to her field remains an inspiration.
Mr. Jackson’s memory will forever be cherished by his four sons: Thomas “TJ” Louie Jackson Jr. of Cincinnati, Ohio; Terence “Terry” Jackson of San Jose, California; André Action Jackson of Friendship Heights, Maryland; and Jahmal Abdul Jackson of Washington, D.C.
Tommy is a cherished and reliable brother, who was the third eldest among his parents' four sons: Claude Luther Sr. “C.L.” (the eldest), Robert “Bobby” (second-born), and James, the youngest. He was also the brother to five sisters, listed by birth order: Lillie (eldest), Margaret (second), Suzy (third), Kelli (fourth), and Mary Nell (youngest).
His formidable legacy continues through his sixteen adoring grandchildren: Derrick, Tayla, Andréa, Taylor, Morgan, Bekka, Jahmal Jr., Christopher, Jamira, Jamir, Jasim, Mary Angela, André Madiba, Pasha, Praya and Petra, as well as through his nine great-grandchildren—Diamond, Destiny, Dynasty, Desirray, Cadence, Johnto, Jalane, Jabria and Journey —who will carry forward his spirit of generosity and love.
Mr. Jackson passed away on Uvalde Lane in Madison County, Huntsville, Alabama, USA. A combined wake and funeral service was held in his honor on Sunday, August 29, at 6:00 PM at Nelms Memorial Funeral Home, located at 2501 Carmichael Avenue NW, Huntsville, Alabama. The burial followed on Monday, August 30, at 11:00 AM at Valley View Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Meridianville, Alabama.
Tommy L. Jackson will be most remembered for his leadership, activism and impact on North America’s Afrocentric society.
Meer...
Minder...
