- Date Of Birth: November 11, 1931
- Date Of Death: October 3, 2019
- State: Georgia
Nell Griffis Jackson of Newnan, Georgia met her Lord on October 3, 2019.
She was born November 11, 1931, to the late Oscar B. and Lorena Karr Griffis of Villa Rica, Georgia. She graduated from Villa Rica High School, Villa Rica, Georgia in 1948. On August 25, 1951, Nell married Searcy Jackson from Carrollton, Georgia. In 1954, Searcy answered the Divine call from God to enter the ministry. Both she and Searcy believed a call to preach was a call to prepare; thus, they began their educational careers.
Nell’s employment career included the accounting department of Southern Bell in Atlanta, the payroll department with Talon Zipper Co. in Cleveland, GA, First Federal Savings and Loan in Cordele, GA, First National Bank in Gainesville, GA, accounts receivable clerk with Air Host Inn in Atlanta, a bookkeeper with Newnan High School and over 17 years with First National – First Union Bank. In the earlier jobs, Nell was working to enable her husband, Searcy, to complete his college and seminary training. She worked during the day and attended college at night, taking church-related courses. She attended Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, GA, Mercer University in Macon GA, and The University of Georgia satellite campus in Gainesville GA.
In addition to her parents, Nell Jackson was preceded in death by her sister Doris Jordan and her husband Ray Jordan, Betty Miller and her husband Tom Miller, a brother Charles Griffis and her nieces Judy Jordan Philips, Jane Miller Hall and a nephew David Jordan. Survivors include her husband of 68 years, Searcy Jackson of Newnan, GA; her children Danny Jackson and his wife Brenda of Leesburg GA, Jeff Jackson and his partner Stan Pollard of Atlanta, Jan Rivers and her husband David of Augusta GA. Her grandchildren are T. J. Jackson and his wife Amanda of Leesburg, Heather Rivers of Augusta, Jackson Rivers and his wife Erica of Carrollton, and Zoe Margolin of Atlanta. Nell was instrumental in organizing the WMU, the Sunbeams, and YWA while Searcy was pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Bowden GA. She also exercised leadership in all the churches where they served. While Searcy was transitional pastor at Macedonia Baptist Church, the Young at Heart Senior Ministry was formed. It is a vibrant part of the church to this day and a tribute to the vision she and Searcy had for the ministry.
Nell was known for her traits of dependability and sincere dedication to whatever task in which she was involved. These life lessons were also the bedrock of raising her children. If a task was worth doing in life, it absolutely must be done correctly the first time, as that may be the only chance one gets. Nell was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother to her family and understood very well her duty as the wife of a minister. She would comment that while Searcy might be leaving the church they were serving, they really wished they could keep Nell. Nell was born of an incredible servant’s spirit. Her greatest joy was in service to the sick, needy, and the hurting. Church membership was never a determinant in her servant’s heart. To be in her life, hopefully, you would receive one of her famous pecan pies, and if you were out of the area, they could always be shipped to you!
