Milton M. Jackson, Sr.

Graveside services celebrating the life of Milton Moore Jackson, Sr. well-known educator and citizen will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2020, in the St. John cemetery at 11:00 a.m.  Rev. Steven R. Conley will be the officiant.  Visitation for Mr. Jackson will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the chapel of Loche's Mortuary, Inc. Friends are encouraged to follow the social distancing rules. Masks are required to attend the visitation. To send words of comfort or condolences, flowers, or light candle, please see the instructions attached to this tribute.

Milton's Memoires 

December 30, 1931 was a Wednesday, the 364th day of the year. Families were settling down after Christmas and awaiting the beginning of the new year. But, in the small hamlet of Girard, just outside of Rayville, Louisiana, Guy W. and Rachel Jackson eagerly awaited the birth of their eleventh child. To this child was given the name Milton Moore Jackson. Little did they know that Milton would grow up and become an orator of immeasurable talent. Little did they know that this baby boy would be blessed by God with the gift of writing, and would become an orator that would capture the hearts and minds of thousands of children for years to come. Little did they know.

There was never a dull moment in the Jackson household. God, the Bible, and church were vital parts of the Jackson household. Guy and Rachel instilled in their children the love of God, the importance of kindness, fairness, and compassion for their siblings and others. They instilled in them the importance of putting God and his principles first, but also the importance of education.

When he was only twelve, Milton gave his life to God and joined the Parkview Baptist Church in Rayville under the leadership of Rev. B. J. Johnson. He attended the Rhymes Elementary School in Richland Parish and attended school for a while in Ouachita Parish. When his parents passed away Milton moved to Bastrop with his uncle and became a part of Morehouse Parish Training School legacy. Morehouse Parish Training School became a part of his heart and would remain there until his demise. To be a “Tiger” was one of the highlights of his life and he wore his Morehouse memorabilia with pride.

He graduated from Morehouse in 1951 and promptly joined the United States Army; proudly serving three years with Uncle Sam. Although he was far from home; his family and his friends, the heart that tied him to home was still there. Her name was Emma Lee Vaughan. And, oh, he loved her and missed her.

On September 4, 1955, Emma Lee Vaughan, his high school sweetheart, became the beautiful bride of Milton Moore Jackson. To this union, five children were born: Milton, Jr., Cheryl, Jeffery, John, and Guy Michael. For sixty-four years, Milton and Emma Jackson, a union blessed by God, have been a vital part of the Morehouse Parish community.

Education was important to Milton. After his tour of duty, he enrolled at Grambling State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. He received his Master's Degree in Education from Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and his Masters + 30 from Northeast Louisiana State University. He came home and was hired as an English teacher at Morehouse Parish High School (his alma mater).  For over thirty years he touched the lives of young people, opening Shakespearean tales, sharing poems by Edgar Allan Poe, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, and James Weldon Johnson to name a few. His students were captivated by his ability to take them to places through the beauty of literature that they would never travel. Students who left his classes would often quote passages that he taught and they would never forget. He also touched the lives of many of the young teachers and shared with them his love and passion for English.

Milton was a lifetime member of Grambling State University and American Legion Post 501. He leaves to cherish his memories, to remember with fondness his wise counsel, a devoted wife of sixty-four years, Emma Lee Vaughan Jackson, three grateful children, Cheryl Jackson-Scott, John Jackson (Robin), and Guy Michael Jackson; five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, other family members, friends, and students who will always remember "their deep-voiced English teacher who made literature come alive."

On Friday morning, July 3rd, strikingly similar to one of his favorite poems, “Go Down Death," by James Weldon Johnson, Milton Moore Jackson, Sr. stepped from mortality into immortality.

                               “And God said: Go down Death, go down. Go down to Bastrop Louisiana

                         Down in Morehouse Parish, and find Brother Milton.

                     He’s born the burden and heat of the day.

                       He’s labored long in my vineyard, And he’s tired; he’s weary.

                        Go down, Death, and bring him to me. Weep not. Weep not.

                            He is not dead. He’s resting in the bosom of Jesus.

                               He’s resting in the bosom of Jesus!

                                 Hallelujah!  Hallelujah! Amen!"

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