Billy Martin Jackson

Billy Martin Jackson, 84, of Beaumont, died Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at Christus Southeast Texas-St. Elizabeth, Beaumont. Billy was born July 15, 1936 in Attapulgus, Georgia, to James William Jackson and Georgia Josephine Parham Jackson. He was the seventh child born to Jimmy and Josephine. Three more came after him.

His father worked for a company that mined Fuller’s Earth, and the family lived in a small community outside Attapulgus. He rode the bus to school in Attapulgus every day along with his brothers and sisters. They moved into town and his father opened a service station—grocery store. He worked in the store and opened it up for his dad every morning before school.

He graduated from Attapulgus High School and spent one year at Oglethorpe University and then transferred to Georgia Teachers College in Statesboro, Georgia. He graduated in 1958 and got a job teaching in Nahunta, Georgia. He later taught in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, and Tallahassee, Florida. He married Miriam Cowart December 26, 1960. In 1962, he joined Toastmasters which became an important part of his life. He was a very good public speaker and was a member of the organization the rest of his life.

In 1965, he went to work for the Traveler’s Insurance Company. He rose to be manager of the Surety Division in Cincinnati, Ohio. His division was sold to Continental Insurance Company in 1989, and Miriam and Billy moved to Columbus, Ohio.

He retired in 1995 and they moved back to Tallahassee. In 2011, they moved to Beaumont, Texas, to be near their two sons and grandchildren.

He was christened as a baby in the Methodist church. He was a member of the Methodist church all of his life serving as Sunday School teacher, on various committees and boards.

In college he was president of the Wesley Foundation.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Miriam; two sons, James William Jackson (Pam) and Jeffrey Martin Jackson (Alli); seven grandchildren, Hannah, Will, Cole, Max, Reese, Martti, and Aino. He is also survived by sisters, Mary Jo Clark of Saint Cloud, Minnesota and Enid Borders of Panama City, Florida; and brother, Charles Graham Jackson of Detroit, Michigan.

He is preceded in death by sisters, Catherine Smith and Geraldine McCarty; brothers, Mason Jackson, James Jackson, Royce Jackson, Carl Jackson.

A funeral service for Mr. Jackson will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 4, 2021, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 3430 Harrison Avenue, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A graveside service will be held at Attapulgus Cemetery in Attapulgus, Georgia.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Southeast Texas Food Bank, 3845 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway, Beaumont, Texas 77705-4114; Nutrition and Services for Seniors (Meals on Wheels), 4590 Concord, Beaumont, Texas 77703; Some Other Place, P.O. Box 0843, Beaumont, Texas 77704; and Trinity United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 5247, Beaumont, Texas 77726.

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