Obituary for Betty Lou Jackson
Obituary of Betty Lou Jackson
Betty Lou Jackson was born April 13, 1938 in Delhi, Louisiana to proud parents, Elijah and Betty Lou Cleveland. She was the seventh of fifteen children born to their union.
Betty attended Esthertoomb school, the only “colored” school in Delhi, Louisiana until the 8th grade.
Betty accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and was baptized becoming a member of Seven Star Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. D.L. McCall in Delhi, Louisiana.
In 1959, soon after her marriage to Herman Jackson, the family left the South and moved to Wasco, California. After her marriage dissolved, she relocated several times and finally settled in Bakersfield, California along with her sisters (Ethel, Jessie and Anna) and their families.
Betty loved the Lord and made sure she taught her children to love and serve the Lord as well. They attended a church service almost every day of the week. She attended many churches after Seven Star Baptist Church, but made Union Baptist Church of Bakersfield, California her home under the leadership of the late Rev. Elihue Brown, the late Rev. John W. Turner and current Pastor, Donald Allen. Betty served in many auxiliaries but her passion was the usher board, where she served many positions including President. Betty loved Sunday school, Wednesday night Bible study and Fifth Sunday Mission programs. She was an active member of the choir, where she sang alto, and often lead church hymns during prayer and worship. She also served on the pastor’s aid committee, Senior Mission and the Mother’s Board for many years. Betty remained an active church member until her failing health prevented her from doing so.
Betty loved to shop and money was no object when it came to her style and fashion. When Betty served the Lord, she did not just show up, but she showed out in her Sunday best. When you saw her at church, she would have on a beautiful suit fitted perfectly with a matching hat, purse, shoes and hand scarf. Her coordinating jewelry would shine almost as bright as she looked. She made sure her children would look as great as she did when they were young. She loved to make people look and feel good about themselves, especially the first ladies of Union Baptist Church.
Betty loved her children and grandchildren and gave them all she had. She helped to raise many of her grandchildren including Terrie and Shimeaka. Betty always encouraged her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and anyone who would listen to get a good education, work hard and always serve the Lord. She would encourage them to attend church, then push for them to join; she was always trying to save souls. Once someone would join church, she would say are you (not will you) joining the usher board or the choir, knowing all the while she was going to have them in both!
Betty worked hard throughout her life, but spent the last 30 years as a caregiver. She enjoyed and cherished Vanessa and Case Wiseman as their nanny for many years and loved them as her own. She remained in contact with the Wiseman family until her passing.
Betty also served as caregiver for an older client turned friend; Betty Camp, for over 10 years until a work-related injury prevented her from continuing, sending her into retirement.
On Tuesday, June 2, 2021 Betty passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loved ones. She was preceded in death by her parents, Betty Lou and Elijah Cleveland. Her son, Larry Jackson and granddaughter, Latasha Hunter. Siblings: Joe Cleveland, Josephine Jackson, William Cleveland, Lynell Cleveland, Jessie Jamison, Edward Cleveland, Roosevelt Cleveland, Leroy Cleveland, Dan Cleveland, Bertha Cleveland and Billy Cleveland.
Betty leaves to cherish her memory and will be deeply missed by her children; Annie (Thomas) Fair, Jonell Cleveland, Herman Jackson, Gary Jackson, Theresa Wilkins, and Sheila Jackson all of Bakersfield, California. Her siblings; Ethel Bennett and Anna Cleveland from Bakersfield, California; Jack Cleveland from Chicago, Illinois and Mary Griffin from Houston, Texas. A host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, church family and friends.
Betty Lou Jackson was born April 13, 1938 in Delhi, Louisiana to proud parents, Elijah and Betty Lou Cleveland. She was the seventh of fifteen children born to their union.
Betty attended Esthertoomb school, the only “colored” school in Delhi, Louisiana until the 8th grade.
Betty accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and was baptized becoming a member of Seven Star Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. D.L. McCall in Delhi, Louisiana.
In 1959, soon after her marriage to Herman Jackson, the family left the South and moved to Wasco, California. After her marriage dissolved, she relocated several times and finally settled in Bakersfield, California along with her sisters (Ethel, Jessie and Anna) and their families.
Betty loved the Lord and made sure she taught her children to love and serve the Lord as well. They attended a church service almost every day of the week. She attended many churches after Seven Star Baptist Church, but made Union Baptist Church of Bakersfield, California her home under the leadership of the late Rev. Elihue Brown, the late Rev. John W. Turner and current Pastor, Donald Allen. Betty served in many auxiliaries but her passion was the usher board, where she served many positions including President. Betty loved Sunday school, Wednesday night Bible study and Fifth Sunday Mission programs. She was an active member of the choir, where she sang alto, and often lead church hymns during prayer and worship. She also served on the pastor’s aid committee, Senior Mission and the Mother’s Board for many years. Betty remained an active church member until her failing health prevented her from doing so.
Betty loved to shop and money was no object when it came to her style and fashion. When Betty served the Lord, she did not just show up, but she showed out in her Sunday best. When you saw her at church, she would have on a beautiful suit fitted perfectly with a matching hat, purse, shoes and hand scarf. Her coordinating jewelry would shine almost as bright as she looked. She made sure her children would look as great as she did when they were young. She loved to make people look and feel good about themselves, especially the first ladies of Union Baptist Church.
Betty loved her children and grandchildren and gave them all she had. She helped to raise many of her grandchildren including Terrie and Shimeaka. Betty always encouraged her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and anyone who would listen to get a good education, work hard and always serve the Lord. She would encourage them to attend church, then push for them to join; she was always trying to save souls. Once someone would join church, she would say are you (not will you) joining the usher board or the choir, knowing all the while she was going to have them in both!
Betty worked hard throughout her life, but spent the last 30 years as a caregiver. She enjoyed and cherished Vanessa and Case Wiseman as their nanny for many years and loved them as her own. She remained in contact with the Wiseman family until her passing.
Betty also served as caregiver for an older client turned friend; Betty Camp, for over 10 years until a work-related injury prevented her from continuing, sending her into retirement.
On Tuesday, June 2, 2021 Betty passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loved ones. She was preceded in death by her parents, Betty Lou and Elijah Cleveland. Her son, Larry Jackson and granddaughter, Latasha Hunter. Siblings: Joe Cleveland, Josephine Jackson, William Cleveland, Lynell Cleveland, Jessie Jamison, Edward Cleveland, Roosevelt Cleveland, Leroy Cleveland, Dan Cleveland, Bertha Cleveland and Billy Cleveland.
Betty leaves to cherish her memory and will be deeply missed by her children; Annie (Thomas) Fair, Jonell Cleveland, Herman Jackson, Gary Jackson, Theresa Wilkins, and Sheila Jackson all of Bakersfield, California. Her siblings; Ethel Bennett and Anna Cleveland from Bakersfield, California; Jack Cleveland from Chicago, Illinois and Mary Griffin from Houston, Texas. A host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, church family and friends.