Obituaries

Elder Ruben Jackson was born on January 8, 1946 to the late Deacon Moses Jackson, Sr., and Missionary Pearla Ardene Glass Jackson of Snow Lake, Arkansas. He confessed and accepted Jesus Christ into his life at an early age. His parents were loving, generous, and made many sacrifices for him and his siblings. He started his education in Snow Lake, Arkansas. He enlisted in the military; he served his country in the United States Army. He also served in the Vietnam Era.  After the military, he attended Crowley Ridge Vo-Tech College for Carpenter in Forest City, Arkansas.  Ruben was united in Holy Matrimony to Georgia Lee Johnson. They were blessed with ten children.

Elder Ruben served as a Sunday School Teacher and Minster at Christ Temple C.O.G.I.C. He later moved his membership and served as an assistant pastor at Lakeview C.O.G.I.C for 18 years. Elder Ruben currently served as an active and faithful member at the Church of Holiness, under the leadership of Elder Willie B. Mooney.  He served as a Sunday School Teacher and enjoyed the fellowship with the members of his church. When he became unable to attend service, Pastor Moody and Elder Lester Phillips would often travel to his home to give him Holy Communion.  Pastor Mooney and the church family continuedly checked on Elder Ruben and his family.  Elder Ruben was blessed to have such devoted members who truly loved him.  There was nothing that Elder Ruben would do for those he loved whether, spiritually or financially.  His family is forever grateful for the service the Church provided to him and his family.

Elder Ruben was a hard worker who devoted his time to providing for his family.  He worked at Mohawk Rubber Company until they closed, Quincy Soybeans, The Helena Housing Authority, Arkansas Highway Department, The Women’s Correctional Unit in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and Phillip County Road Department where he retired.  After retirement he spent his time doing what he loved…fishing, hunting, and growing his organic garden.  Then he met Scott and Susan Kaskaski who managed the Farmer’s Market program in Helena, Arkansas. He began to take fresh items from his garden including items he canned with his wife and sold them at the Farmers Market.  They even entered some of their canned items such as: jellies, chow-chow, and pear relish into the local and district fairs where they received blue ribbons for placing first.  They eventually were selected as the Farmers Market Vendor of the week.

Elder Ruben raised his children to love God, stay faithfully to God, and always keep Him first in their lives. He enjoyed going to family reunions, graduations, and spending special time with his family. He and his wife would always include, their lifetime, devoted friend of 50 years; Mrs. Alberta Mills and her children; Debra, Isaac, Michael, Karen, Jerome, and Gregory to all family events. Family, friends, and his church members meant everything to him.

He was an avid hunter, who spent a lot of his time hunting with his sons, brothers, grandsons, nephews, and friends in Snow Lake and Monticello, Arkansas.  He enjoyed fishing and going on many hunting expeditions with Herman Hunter, Sr., Elder Lester Phillips, and Roosevelt Frierson. Dad belonged to the Snow Lake Hunting Club. He would hunt until dusk dark and then come home and go back before the break of dawn to hunt again. He did this every year until his health failed him.

Elder Ruben Jackson had three brothers; two sisters; one daughter and one son to precede him in death.

Elder Ruben leaves to cherish his wife of forty-seven years; Georgia Jackson, ten children; Terry Johnson of Fort Lauderdale FL, Vernon (Sonya) Turner of Douglassville GA, Antonio (Kotina) Jackson of Temple TX, Charles (Cathy) Smith of Chicago IL, Jessie (Louise) Johnson of Pine Bluff AR, Carletta (Rickey) Burchett, Anita Clash both of Little Rock AR, Beverly Johnson Wells of Marvell AR, Demetric Johnson of West Helena AR, Debra Perry of California, thirteen grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, six brothers; Moses Jackson, Jr. of Hughes AR, Thomas Jackson, Sr., Glen (Margaret) Jackson both of West Helena AR, Jerry Jackson of Cincinnati Ohio, Perry Jackson of Elaine AR, Mark Gregory Jackson of Little Rock AR, two sisters; Lenora (Edward) Marshall of Elaine AR, Mozella Emsweller of West Helena AR, a loving aunt; Queen Ester (Greg) Wimpie of Chicago IL, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends who knew and loved him. He will truly be missed by all.