About Jean Jackson

Testimonial by Anne Mixer

(Corey’s Sister through Guardians)

My earliest memory of Aunt Jean is sitting on her lap outside of church one Sunday afternoon. The memory is still so vivid to me, because her embrace enraptured me in a way that cannot be described in words. Aunt Jean was beautiful inside and out, her embrace was warm and enveloped me completely. To this day the smell of Chanel No. 5 brings me back to that moment when everything in the world felt right and good in her arms. Being a young child, my memories of Aunt Jean differ from most as does my relationship with her; mainly because both were short lived. To me, Aunt Jean was a comfortable couch lined with stuffed animals, a musical statue unwinding on a coffee table and brownies baking in the kitchen. She was tall glasses of iced tea, gum rummaged from an oversized purse, rosary beads and roses in the garden. She was endless hugs, warm smiles and joyous laughter. She was all the little things that made life beautiful and in those small things she managed great things.

When I was five Aunt Jean and Corey took me to my first College World Series game. I can still smell the hot dogs and peanuts and taste the sunflower seeds that Corey was patiently teaching me to properly split and spit. Corey gave me his baseball glove to wear and every time a player would hit a ball, no matter where it projected in the park, Corey would lift me up and encourage me to catch it; all the while Aunt Jean telling him to be careful with me. It was an evening game and when the sun was setting and the weather cooled, Aunt Jean put her jacket around me. I remember her looking so radiant with the sunset glow upon her face and the incredible softness of her hand holding mine. This memory is so very dear to me because it occurred before I understood her to be sick and it was the last memory I have of her when she wasn’t. Knowing Aunt Jean, she knew herself to be ill but chose not to share that information with me because she wanted to protect and shelter me from the truth. Aunt Jean was a very strong and independent woman who never shared her own suffering though God knows she tended to everyone else’s.

My last memory was saying goodbye. I was sitting in the pew of the church during her wake and understanding loss for the first time in my life. I understood then more than I had before just how much I loved her and how very dear she was to me. It disheartens me to admit it, but I believe I knew and understood her more in that moment than I had before when she was alive because it all became so clear. The truth is we never fully understand how much we love someone until they are gone. I always say that if you were blessed enough to know my Aunt Jean, then you were blessed enough. Aunt Jean was a mother figure and a role model to me. Even in my youth I knew that Aunt Jean left an imprint upon me that I would carry throughout my life. To this day she is one of the strongest women I have ever known. Aunt Jean lived her life according to her beliefs which were rooted in God. When she touched you, touched your life, you felt the love of God through her. She was beautiful inside and out because she emanated the beauty of Jesus Christ. You felt nothing but love, kindness, compassion, understanding and acceptance in her presence. She gave of herself completely to everyone she knew. Selfless to the end and beyond, she left me with one final gift—my brother Corey. Sitting in the pew that night I watched Corey in his grief, and I understood in my heart that I was supposed to watch over him and love him unconditionally. I believe with everything in me that my Aunt Jean put this understanding in my heart and implemented the relationship between my brother and I which has been inseparable since.

I know Aunt Jean placed me in my Brother Corey’s life and he in mine because she knew we needed
each other. Furthermore, I know without doubt that after all my years of worry and prayer, Aunt Jean placed Melissa before Corey and instigated their union. I know this to be true because Melissa is one of the strongest, most beautiful, kind, compassionate, understanding and loving women I have ever known and Aunt Jean would not have settled for less.

To this day when I am struggling with certain issues, I call upon Aunt Jean to guide me. I know she is present in the lives of all the people she loves, especially Corey, who exemplifies the greatest traits of his mother. A love such as Aunt Jean’s is so strong that it can surpass the test of time and be felt beyond physical existence. The lives of those she touched are forever changed.

I believe the Jean Jackson Foundation to be an extended embodiment of Jean Jackson's love and compassion for others, lived out through her Son Corey.

“I met Jean in the 70’s when I was searching for a caretaker for my daughter.  I really believe that people come into your life for a reason and I hit the jackpot.  From the beginning Jean was simply a ray of sunshine.   I have never met a person who was so open, so beautiful and genuine in my entire life.  Jean quickly became my very best friend ever and the sister I never had.  Her presence in my life made changes that were so subtle yet life lasting that at first, I was not even aware of them.

For example, at her invitation, I began going to mass with her and after a while, I actually began to look forward to it.  Her cheery disposition made it impossible for me to be around her looking like a thundercloud.   She had me looking at my situation as a single mom in a totally new light, especially since she so wanted to have a child.  Finally having someone to really talk to and that I could trust was such a great feeling.  Jean and I would sit for long periods of time and not say a word but we were still together.

Her total faith in God was revealed to me when she confided to me that she had a lump in her breast.  Of course, I panicked and she calmly told me that she would be fine.  Of course, she was right and on the day of her surgery when I went to see her, I was expecting to see her in bed hooked up to tubes, and instead I met Jean coming down the hall toward me with her IV stand in tow.

I witnessed pure joy on the day Jean brought Corey home.  The love and contentment Jean radiated when she held Corey was obvious to anyone who was around them.  I’m proud to say that she asked me and I am Corey’s godmother.

Jean always saw the good in people and we often had sometimes heated discussions concerning certain people.   Her faith and beliefs far outweighed my opinions and I have to admit I am still working on that area of my life.

Jean’s courage and strength was beyond my understanding when she lost Jack.  I was with her as she made arrangements, met with people, and still managed to be gracious and caring to those who came to offer their condolences.  The beauty was still there inside and out and I marvel at how she did it with such ease.  When Jean and I were kneeling at mass I can still see the look of pure joy and serenity on her face as she prayed.

Even though Jean moved to Nebraska, we kept each other up-to-date regarding Corey and my daughters.  Jean was the godmother to my youngest daughter and one summer Jean and I made arrangements for her to fly to Nebraska for a few weeks.

Jean and Corey came to Washington to see us and now I realize that I was so happy to see them, that now in hindsight, I realize Jean had come to see me because she knew she might not see me again.  She never told me that the cancer had come back and it was probably because she knew I would not be able to handle it well.  That was Jean, caring about others and not herself.  She loved me and I loved her and she knew me a little better than I knew myself.  I pray she knows I would have found a way to go there and help Corey during the months leading to her passing.

I Love her and I still miss her.”

“A life touched by Jean was a life forever changed.
She was a beautiful joy-filled soul to the end.
Jean lived her days with great courage and grace.
She radiated a light so strong one could not help but be drawn to her.
Jean was open and nonjudgmental—Jean was Love.
We see Jean through the gift of her son, Corey.
We are grateful for her life and to have called her friend.”

Testimonial by Cheryl Stroman

Close Family Friend

"I met Jean in 1966 at a business school in Lincoln. We hit it off right away which I later found out was strange because she didn't warm up to a lot of people fast. She had the funniest, driest sense of humor, which I loved. The first thing you would notice about Jean is she had the most beautiful brown eyes. She was one of the three most important (other than kids and grandkids) people in my life in terms of loyalty, friendship, and honesty. Oddly enough, all three came from middle Nebraska.

Another thing I always found strange, all of them came from white, republican, bigoted, racist families and all three rose above their families, formed their own opinions. They, and her especially, all had minds and hearts of their own and thought for themselves.

Jean had a tremendous sense of right and wrong and fairness. In another life, she'd have been Mother Theresa, Joan of Arc, or Rosa Parks.

After a few weeks of friendship, we moved in together in an apartment and were roommates while we were in school. I was in the middle of a divorce and custody battle. She was my support, my advisor, and my shoulder. I'll not go into the personal stuff except to say my life was a mess, and she was my bright spot. The custody battle was fixed and all about money and I was put through hell. She stuck by me all the way.

Years later, what was done to me for nearly three years came out, but at the time, she never once doubted my story. She always stuck up for me and that was in an era when women didn't lose custody unless they had done something wrong.

My ex joined the service and they placed my daughter in a foster home until he came home and went back to court. I had to have money for a lawyer and to pay half the foster care (ordered by the court). I went on the road as a go-go dancer (clothes on) and took her with me and actually talked Jean into it also. (As I said, she had not only a mind of her own, but was not squeamish or afraid to try anything.)

We had to move to Omaha as we were booked out of there. She got very lonely on the road, and I'm not too sure she didn't stay with it because of me.

Back in Omaha, she met Willie. I wish I could remember more on that than I do, but that one was pretty quick and as they say, the rest was history.

Willie was black and this was the 60's in middle Nebraska. Once again, she stepped up to the plate and her own convictions. I never really got to know Willie real well. I went to their home a few times in Omaha and he was always pleasant and cordial but when I came over, he would excuse himself and go read. Jean said that was what he always did.

When they moved to Washington, D.C., Corey came along...she was ecstatic!!! Jean was a natural born mother, could have had 10 kids easy and loved them all equally. Her life revolved around Corey and teaching him. She was fanatic about his manners, but was never overbearing towards her child, just taught him and it was so natural to her.

The next few years were sketchy because of the problems in my own life, and we lost some touch but whenever we got together it was all so normal. I remember my youngest daughter and Corey playing together at her home in Omaha (Bellevue).

I also remember talking to her about my other daughter who was with me now after the custody battle, but not without problems, a lot of anger, acting out—she had been neglected a lot. I remember talking to Jean about it and her giving suggestions.

I don't know to this day at what point I introduced her to Stan and Ellen (Corey's guardians) but God bless me for that. There are no people more honest than those two, and I think she'd seen it too, because another story where the rest is history. Look what he grew into...

I'm not real religious and I don't claim to be a Christian, but I have a tremendous belief in God, and I have no doubt that in some way God led Corey to Melissa through his Mom. Jean was very faithful in her religion and relied on her faith in a lot of areas.

One of my biggest regrets in life, and I've spoke of this before to Stan and Ellen, is losing touch over the years to a degree. A lot of things happened in my life, sad to say, some from my own mistakes and stupidity. I also, for a lot of years was the sole support of my girls and worked like a dog for years, because I was determined to never stand in a welfare line.

In my mind's eye, I see Jean standing in her kitchen behind Corey as a little guy, always behind him.

I loved her—still do."