Wife, mother, aunt, spiritual counselor, and confidant, Mary Elizabeth Jackson was born on Wednesday, August 3, 1938, to Howard Lee Edward Jackson, Sr. and Elizabeth Whigham Jackson in Comer Alabama, the second of four children.
Otherwise known to many as “Sister,” Mary was a proven cook and baker at a young age. She was a scholar as well, having graduated at the top of her class from Rebecca Comer High School at the age of 15 in 1954. Mary went on to attend Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College (currently Tennessee State University), majoring in biology for two years before going on hiatus to work full-time.
By 1958, Mary arrived in East Chicago, Indiana with help from her cousin Charlotte, to pursue work as a local seamstress. Mary would later become part of a sisterhood of her beloved cousins, which included Charlotte Liggins, Naomi “Honey Tea” Jones, Mazola Haney, and Lillian Daniels, all of whom did life together and were more like sisters than merely cousins.
Mary grew up serving God at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Midway, Alabama. In 1964, Mary began studying in-depth about the Second Coming of Christ, and later joined the Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Church in East Chicago, Indiana. She faithfully served in various positions until health challenges would no longer allow her in recent years.
In 1960, while living and working in East Chicago Indiana, Mary met and married George W. Moore (of Eufaula Alabama), becoming Mary E Moore. They immediately started a family, having eight children total. A voracious reader, consummate gardener, an artist and creator, skilled seamstress, master cook, and baker, Mary demonstrated through various life roles that her strength was in the details, taking extreme care in all she did. Many of her children share in some of her talents, specifically in the arts.
The family that preceded her in death, her mother, Elizabeth Jackson; father, Howard Jackson, Sr.; son, Le Carlo W. Moore, brother, Isiah Jackson; sister Annette Jackson; husband, George Moore, Sr.
Among so many left to mourn her absence are Mary’s children, LaFonda E Moore, Gary IN, George W. Moore Jr., Conyers GA, Garrett L. (Tracie) Moore, Ooltewah TN, Tabitha L. Moore, Atlanta GA, Gabriel K. (Dawn) Moore, St. Joseph, MI, Byron J. Moore, Atlanta GA, Daniel C. (Melanie) Moore, Orlando FL; grandchildren, Jo’Nece, Kendra, Mark, Ashley, Raiven, Gabrielle, Justin, Paris, Gabriel Conner, Mila, Mileena; great-grandchildren, Zuria Elizabeth, Ziaire Marquis; brother, Howard Lee Jackson, Jr., Marion, IN; sisters-in-law, Juanita Moore, (GA), Victoria Moore Robinson, (GA), Johnetta Moore Swain (Donald), CA, Jackie Jackson, (FL); numerous nieces and nephews; church members, neighbors, and friends.
Public viewing will be held 9:00 am-2:30 pm, on Monday, April 25th, followed immediately by a 2:30 pm service in the chapel of the funeral home.
Arrangements by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Avenue, 423-622-9995.