Roy Rogie Jackson, Sr., passed away on November 6, 2007 in his home surrounded by his family and loved ones. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 9, 2007, at Trinity United Methodist Church. Rev. Chris Ramsey will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery with full Masonic rites. Masons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Mason, members of the Ferry Lake Fishing Club, employees of Tifton Machine Works, Inc., and employees of Georgia Controls and Power Transmission, Inc. The family will receive friends on Thursday, November 8, 2007, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Jackson was born in Telfair County on January 18, 1919 and was the son of Thomas Hardy Jackson and Alberta Glynn Jackson, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by one brother, Hardy Jackson, and two sisters, Ruby Rush and Ethel Martin. He served in the United States Navy in 1946. Following his naval service, he moved to Tifton, where he founded Tifton Machine Works, Inc. He was devoted to his family and community throughout his life. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, where he served as member and chairman of the finance committee, administrative board and, in 1988, Trinity United Methodist Church honored him with a “Roy Jackson Day”. In 1990, he received the prestigious George A. Wright Memorial Reward. Mr. Jackson was a member of the President’s Club of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, and a past director of the Tifton Bank and Trust Company. For over 20 years, he was President of the Ferry Lake Fishing Club. Mr. Jackson was also awarded Honorary Alumni at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
In spite of his busy schedule of work and home, Mr. Jackson found time to participate and devote his life to the works of the Masonic Order and other philanthropic organizations. As a Mason, he received his first apron in May of 1948, where he began his illustrious career. He was soon raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason in June of 1948 in the Tifton Lodge No. 47 of which he was a Past Master. He lived by the standards of the Masons until his death. It is extraordinary for a Mason to accomplish all that he has done within the Masonic Order.
His Masonic history is as follows: Past High Priest of Tifton Chapter No. 47, Royal Arch Masons, Past Most Illustrious Master, Tifton Council No. 58, Royal and Select Masters, where he was Past Illustrious Grand Master of R&S Masters of Georgia, and Past Commander of Coastal Plains Commandery No. 42, Knights Templar. He was a member of Georgia Priory No. 39, Knights of the York Cross of Honour, and a member of Luther G. Palmer York Rite College No. 113. Brother Jackson was a charter member of charter governor of Wiregrass College No. 203, Georgia Forest No. 181, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, where he was then a charter member of Tall Pines Forest No. 203, Charter G.T.C., Good Shepherd Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine and a life member of Knights Masons of South Carolina Council No. 20. He was also a charter member of Carl F. Lester J. Council of Knights Masons of Georgia. He was a past Master of the Wire Grass Convention, Past Grand Royal Patron of Georgia, and Order of the Amaranth, Past Royal Patron and life member of Tifton Court No. 25, Order of the Amaranth. At the time of his death, he was Deputy Supreme Royal Patron, International Council, and Order of the Amaranth and a member of Blanche Chapter No. 8, Order of the Eastern Star. Brother Jackson was past Chairman of the District Deputies in the Second Masonic District, a Royal Arch District Deputy, an Ambassador at Large, Hasan Shrine Temple, and past Worshipful Master of the Second Masonic District Convention.
A 33 Degree Scottish Rite Mason, Valley of Albany, he served on the Masonic Advisory Committee of the Children’s’ Health Care of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. He also served as the chairman of the Second District Trial Commission. One of the outstanding Masonic endeavors in which Brother Jackson has participated, was serving as Chairman of the Building Committee for restoration of the old Abba Lodge Building at the Agrirama.
Brother Jackson was a member of the Upper Room Tabernacle XLV, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests. He was also Knighted as a Knight of York cross of honor. He was a past Prior of Georgia Priory, KYCH No. 39.
Through the words of the Masonic ritual: He labored long and hard in the quarries of masonry. And now that the working tools of life has slipped from his nerveless hands, I assure you that he has received from he who sitteth Judge Supreme those welcome words, well done thou good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will now make you ruler over many. He hast now entered into the glory of the Lord.
Mr. Jackson is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jimmie Lenora White Jackson of Tifton; one son and daughter-in-law, Roy R. Jackson, Jr. and his wife, Diane, of Tifton; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Mary Glynn Hendricks and her husband, Larry, of Tifton, Rogie Susan Jackson of Statesboro and Kathryn Jackson Hardy and her husband, Ron, of Panama City, Florida; seven sisters, Milly Deshazo of Waycross, Francis Fishcette of Jacksonville, Florida, Martha Andres of Jacksonville, Florida, Sarah Davis of Tifton, Betty Webb of Valdosta, Ellen Hearn of Macon and Joanne Preston of Greensboro, North Carolina; seven grandchildren, Jason and Cynthia Hendricks, Jayme and Chuck Powell, Jennifer Nunn, Jeremy Nunn, Rollins and Deidra Jackson, Caron and Kevin Reid, and Neal Hardy.; and one great grandson, Joshua Thompson Grimsley.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Roy and Jimmie Jackson Educational Foundation, P. O. Box 22, Albany, GA 31702 or any other Masonic charity.