Homer Jackson
Published 12:00 am Monday, September 28, 2009
Homer Jackson, 84, was raptured on September 27, 2009.
Homer was awarded an academic scholarship to Howard College (now Samford University) at age 16 where he became a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.
He later attended Tulane University and graduated in 1941 with a mechanical engineering degree.
Later he attended Midshipman school at Columbia University and was commissioned Ensign Lieutenant Junior Grade. In World War II Homer served on the Fremont, a relief command ship in the Pacific.
After the war Homer attended the University of Alabama where he taught economics. In 1955 he earned a law degree from Jones Law School (now Faulkner University).
Homer was licensed with the State Board of Public Accountancy in 1954 and worked for the Internal Revenue Service in Montgomery three years before joining his father’s accounting firm in Birmingham (Homer A. Jackson Company).
A dedicated Christian, he considered one of the most memorable events in his life being baptized on Easter Sunday aboard ship while serving in the Pacific theater during World War II.
Homer joined Canterbury United Methodist Church in 1960, and became a member of the John Wesley Sunday School Class.
He served on a fund-raising committee for Camp Sumatanga, a Methodist retreat center.
He has been an active member of the Alabama and Birmingham Emmaus Communities and has participated in Kairos, a prison ministry.
Homer became active in the Alabama State Republican Party in 1940 as chairman of the Young Republicans of Alabama.
He was active in the election of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
In 1964, he became State treasurer for the Alabama Republican Party and continued to serve in that position for over 45 years.
He was the state finance chairman for the elections of Ronald Reagan, George Herbert Bush, George Walker Bush, Rep. John Buchanan and Sen. Jeff Sessions.
A highlight of his career was being a member of the electoral college and casting a vote for George W. Bush to become president in the year 2000.
He served on the boards of Jefferson-Blount-St. Clair Mental Health/Mental Retardation Authority and the Jimmie Hale Mission and has been an active member of the Exchange Club of Birmingham.
He was predeceased by his father, Homer Arlin Jackson, Sr., and mother, Virginia Heath Jackson; sister, Sara Jackson Wesselhoeft and brother, Ronald Heath Jackson.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Betty Jackson; daughters, Ginger Jackson of Birmingham and Mallory Jackson of Shelby County, Alabama; grandson, Davis Campbell III of Birmingham; and brother, Dr. John L. Jackson, Jr. of Indiatlantic, FL.
Memorial services will be held in The Canterbury Center at Canterbury United Methodist Church at noon on Wednesday, September 30, 2009, with visitation beginning at 11 a.m.
Memorials may be sent to Camp Sumatanga, 3616 Sumatanga Road, Gallant, 35972 or Jimmie Hale Mission, P.O. Box 10472, Birmingham, 35202-0472.
Services are under the direction of Ridout’s Valley Chapel 879-3401 in Homewood.