Extracted from The Greenwood Commonweath (Greenwood, MS)
Ward Nelson Jackson Sr.
CARROLLTON -- Retired principal Ward Nelson Jackson Sr. always put his teachers first, a former colleague said today.
``He was a good educator. He was a very good principal. He stood behind his teachers,'' said Betty Montgomery, a retired W.C. Williams Elementary School second-grade teacher, who worked under Jackson at the school for more than 10 years.
Jackson, 87, of Carrollton, died of heart failure Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004, at Greenwood Leflore Hospital.
Funeral services for Jackson will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Wilson & Knight Funeral Home.
Jackson retired as principal at Williams in 1982, after serving in the position for 13 years.
Prior to becoming principal at the school, he had been a teacher in the Greenwood School District. He also taught elementary, junior high, high school and special education at schools in McCool, West Jeff Davis, Cascilla, Calvary and Philipp.
After his retirement, Jackson operated a Carroll County cattle operation, Montgomery said.
``He was just a quiet kind of person. He took part in the senior adult activities program at the church,'' said the Rev. Bob Hatzfeld.
A native of Carroll County, Jackson attended Holmes Junior College and received his bachelor's degree from Delta State University and his master's degree from the University of Mississippi.
He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, where he served in the Pacific Theater and was stationed in New Guinea, the Philippines, Okinawa and Japan.
Jackson was a Mason, a member of the American Legion, Phi Delta Kappa fraternity and the Greenwood Civitan Club. He was a member of North Greenwood Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Rebecca Ashmore Jackson of Carrollton; a son, Ward Nelson Jr. of Indianola; and one sister, Norma Josephine Jackson of Carrollton.
Hatzfeld, the Rev. Leon Holly and the Rev. Scott Hudson will officiate at the services.
Burial will be in Longview Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Lacey Little, Kris Yates, James Ashmore, Lance Parent, Hub Jackson, Everett Jackson, Dale Smith, Kevin Jackson and James DeFreese.
Honorary pallbearers will be Lee Woodard, Calvin Hunt, Charlie Cole, Dr. Andy Johnson, Dr. James Robbins and Dr. Gutti Rao.
Visitation will be from 5 until 7 this evening at Wilson & Knight Funeral Home in Greenwood.
Saturday, February 28, 2004