After decades of working with senior citizens, Jackson in recent years has become a powerful advocate for reform of the country’s criminal justice system. Unable to attend the Assembly to receive her award, Jackson said in a recorded acceptance speech: “I have become passionate about the need to reform our criminal justice system, which is criminal but not just.”
Jackson, a 1943 graduate of Hampton (Va.) University, founded the Jamaica Service Project in Queens, N.Y., which became one of two national models of the Administration on Aging for developing comprehensive and coordinated systems of services for the aging. She served as executive director of the agency until 1980 when she was appointed deputy director of the New York State Office for the Aging. After leaving government service in 1991, Jackson served as consultant on a variety of aging and educational projects.
She also became a volunteer at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in the children and parenting programs. In 1996, she led efforts to reestablish a college degree program at that correctional facility and until her death was a tireless advocate for criminal justice reform.
Jackson received numerous awards and recognitions, including the 2002 New York State Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award.
She is survived by her husband, Bailey W. Jackson, three children, seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
