Read by Mr. Kurt Tibbetts, JP, MLAObituary
Clair Maria Jackson
8 May, 1947 - 17 July, 2000
Read by Mr. Kurt Tibbetts, JP, MLA
Mrs. Clair Maria Jackson - nee Irving, wasborn on the 8th of May, 1947 in the parish of St. Elizabeth inJamaica, to Evadney and Ivanhoe Irving.
Clair grew up on a farm, and like many young girls of her agein those days, she joined in doing the chores around the farmand home with her Cousins and Sisters.
Leaving the small town of Forest Mountain, at the tender age of15, she went to live with her Aunt Paul in the city of Kingston.It was not known then, but she embarked on what became as a lifelong tradition of discipline to work hard - by taking a job ina shirt manufacturing factory, in order to earn a living.
Shortly after taking this job, she met Noel Jackson, an automobilemechanic - known to most of us as, Sonny or Jacko.
By the mid sixties, she gave birth to Veronica Suzan, Noel Harryand Christoper in Jamaica.
When her husband Noel moved to Grand Cayman in the late sixties,she joined him later, leaving the three children with family.
Clair and Noel were married on the 20th of January 1967, livedin George Town, and produced three other children - Clinton, Staffordand Donna, who were born to this Union. In 1973, the family movedto Pedro, Bodden Town where they built a home.
Shortly thereafter, Clair felt the need to contribute to the familyincome to help raise six children, and began her working careerin Grand Cayman with various well-known Hospitality Industry establishments,including the Christopher Columbus - where she celebrated 22 yearsof service this year.
In 1974, Miss Clair surrendered her life to Christ and never lookedback, and stayed steadfast in a daily lifestyle of service tohe Lord. She admitted in testimonies many times to family, friendsand to her brothers and sisters in Christ of the transformingpowers of Jesus in her life. She often witnessed of the love andkeeping power she found in the Lord - and had always had an encouragingword to share not only to residents - but to the thousands shemet at Christopher Columbus.
She would often leave in the early hours of the morning to beatthe traffic so as to get to the Pine s Retirement Home, to praywith the residents who looked forward to her visits. She liveda life of Faith, Grace and the saving Power of Jesus Christ.
She attended many Churches, and was a founding member of the Powerof Faith Ministry in the Cayman, where she rose to the positionof Church Secretary and the was bestowed with the appointmentas a Missionary.
Miss Clair felt compassion for those in need, and often was involvedin collecting and distributing food items and clothing to giveto the needy of the island. She did this without any fanfare ... and recognition. She often said, she did it for the Lord.
On the 1st of December, 1999, she opened her life long dream,along with her two daughters - The Sanctuary, a Christian Bookstoreand Flower Shop. In spite of the extra hours required, she wasoften at the store with her daughters - no matter how late, assistingwith various tasks to run the family business - while still keepingher job at Christopher Columbus.
While attending to the business of the Sanctuary with her daughterSuzan this past Monday night, the 17th of July, she passed away- 10 days after her eldest daughter's birthday ... and five daysafter her husband's.
Clair Maria Jackson, leaves to mourn:
· Her husband ... Noel; children - VeronicaSuzan, Noel-Harry, Christopher, Clinton, Stafford and Donna;
· Grandchildren ... Camille; Rachael; Adrian; Jeavhon andJosh who claimed her as his 'Gramma'
· Daughters-in-Law ... Patricia, Kathy, Debbie - and Stafford'sFiancee' Marlene Ebanks
· Son-in-Law ... Desmond Seales
· Sisters ... Dorothy, Toni, Vicki and Tanya
· Brothers ... Mark, Adrian, Ivan, Gary and Rasul
· Uncles ... Luther Sherman and Cleveland Phillips
· Aunts ... Daphne Markman and Yvonne Hinds · Cousins... Devene, Norman, Merle, Jean, Clement-Carol, Ezroy' Pat, Keisha,Eileen, Marie, Patsy, William, Christine and Michael Markman
· Sisters-in-Law ... Methlyn and Hazel
· Brothers-in-law: Alphonso, Andrew, and Errol
· Good Friends ... Marlene Scott, Hazel Allen, Maxine Roberts,
· Very Close, special Friends ... Nellie Boothe and Marieand Tom Saldeba,
· .... and a host of other family and friends
Miss Claire's Funeral service was held lastFriday, 21 July at 3:00 pm at Agape Family Worship Centre, withPastor Fitzroy Wilson, Pastor Al Ebanks, Pastor Winston Rose andPastor Bob Torrance officiating. Her internment was at the EdenCemetery, Pedro Castle.
A Memorial Service will be held in September,at her Church, the Power of Faith Ministry, in September, to furthercelebrate her life.