Marilyn Fanne Jackson

Marilyn Fanne Turner Jackson was born on June 21, 1937 in Detroit, MI to Ollie and Loma Turner. God called her Home to Heaven on October 23, 2024. Her parents, natives of Arkansas, were part of the Great Migration to the north. The couple defied the racism and discrimination of the era and purchased prime land off of Dixie Highway in Holly, MI. A major US thoroughfare at the time, similar to I-95 today. A farm was built and 2 more children, Delores and Louis were added to the family. Marilyn’s life on the farm was full of hard work but fun times too. She learned how to drive her father’s truck short distances at a young age, milk cows, tend to the horses and the like. It was later said that her cousins were threatened with trips to the farm as punishment due to the hard work. However, great times were had by all. Barbeques and lots of family gatherings. Marilyn matriculated through the Holly Public School system and graduated from Holly High School in 1956. After graduation, she attended Genesee Community College in Flint, MI (now Mott Community College) where she majored in general studies while also working at Warwick Hills Country Club, in Grand Blanc, MI. Marilyn’s parents laid a strong foundation of faith for their children. She was born and raised in the Quinn Chapel A.M.E church of Flint, MI where she was a lifelong member. A “Proverbs 31” woman, she loved reading her Bible and strived to live in the Word. A gentle, loving spirit that walked in her faith. As a popular song says, you could always “See the God in her”. Over her years at Quinn Chapel, she served on the Missionary Society, Stewardess Board, Food and Clothing Pantry and taught Vacation Bible School. It was at Quinn Chapel that she met David Louis Jackson Jr. The two were married on April 25, 1964. To that union were born 2 daughters, Cynthia and Lorie. Marilyn was a homemaker while her children were school age. A “community mom” always active in her children’s education and activities. Classroom volunteer, field trip chaperone, story-time reader, helping with homework and school projects and cheering on her children’s sporting and other extracurricular activities. Once her children were older and out of the house, she returned to the workforce. She loved gardening so she took a job at Bordines nursery in Clarkston, MI then Genesee Packaging and Textiles in Flint, MI. On a personal level, she was an avid reader and passed that love of reading onto her children. With that love of gardening, a vegetable garden was planted every year and new flowers every Spring. Roses were her favorite. She also loved to entertain. Often hosting dinners and card parties at the house. She and David often attended formal dances and other social activities with friends. She loved the theater and attending plays and musicals. She was a sports fan. Especially football, college and NFL, and would often ask “Is there a game on?” She loved her family and spending time with them, immediate and extended. Her heart was always open to others. She was a listening ear and gentle advice giver when needed. In 2010, she and David separated and she relocated to Maryland to be near her daughters and grandchildren Lyndsey and Khai. As she would often say, she “loved every minute” of time spent with them. She joined The Peoples’ Community Baptist Church in Silver Spring, MD and gained more “family" through her membership. She was loved by many and often said that she gained more “children” since so many referred to her as “Mom” and more “sisters” through friendships made. She was friendly, personable and never met strangers. She was blessed and a blessing to many. An amazing woman of God who praised Him continuously. You would often hear her say “God’s been good to me”. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents Ollie and Loma Turner and her husband, David L Jackson, Jr. She leaves to cherish her memory, daughters Cynthia and Lorie Jackson, grandchildren Lyndsey and Khai Bryant , sister Delores Keith, sister-in-law Pamela Jackson, first cousins Howard Turner Sr and Maxine Brown, nieces and nephews, Mutima Anderson (George), Maria Blackmon, Krisha Jackson, Ashley Jones (Glenn), Andrea Jackson (Ishmael), Adriane Jackson, Michael Jackson, M.D, Terrance Jackson (Veronica), Kevin Jackson (Jeaneen), James Jackson (Bisola) , Aaron Jackson (Gislain), Timothy Keith and a host of more relatives and friends.

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Marilyn Fanne Jackson

June 21, 1937 - October 23, 2024