Walter Ralph Jackson

     Walter Ralph Jackson, 84, "relocated" to Heaven October 2, 2011, at Regency Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. Visitation will be held October 4, from 1 pm - 2 pm at the Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home (205 Bay Street) in Hattiesburg. A graveside service for family and friends will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Highland Cemetery. A Celebration Service will be held at Oakdale Baptist Church in Brandon on October 5. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by the service at 11 a.m. Pastors Jim Everett and Rick Henson will be officiating. Family and friends are invited to celebrate the life of Ralph Jackson.
     Mr. Jackson was born January 21, 1927, in Tylertown, to Walter Sylvester Jackson and Hattie Crawford Jackson. Ralph was a graduate of USM Business School. He served his country as a Marine in WWII . His career was in sales. He was a top sales producer at Swift and Co. Mr. Jackson was loved and respected by all. His greatest love was in serving the Lord. He served as a deacon, church treasurer, Sunday School and Training Union teacher.
On June 30, 1951, Ralph married Erma Lee McMurray and still considers his wife as his bride. In 2005, after living in Hattiesburg many years, they moved to Brandon to live with their daughter, Debi.
     Mr. Jackson began his days by sharing coffee with his wife. That was part of their morning ritual. Ralph and Erma Lee enjoyed traveling to the Smoky Mountains and to the Ozarks. Many happy memories were made there. Ralph found pleasure in yard work and gardening. He doted on his family, greatly relishing family times, particularly those spent with his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and his two "best girls," Erma Lee and Debi.
When Ralph and Erma Lee moved to Brandon, they were delighted to find a new church home at Oakdale Baptist, where they happily settled into The Misfits Sunday School Class. A special thanks to these dear friends who extended much loving-kindness towards Ralph and his family these last few years.
     Preceding Mr. Jackson in death were his parents, two sisters, L.C. Blackwell and Laverne Tynes and one brother, Ray Jackson. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Erma Lee Jackson of Brandon, MS; his daughter, Debi Jackson-Green of Brandon, MS; two grand-daughters, Dacia Green and Brittany Green Christian and three great-grandchildren: Alexis, Alonna and Aden, all of Brandon, MS; his sister, Lacey Jackson Goff of Metairie, LA; his sister-in-law, Holine Jackson of Tylertown, MS; his aunt, Sara Crawford of Jackson, MS; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.
     In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Team Green of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to honor his daughter, Debi (who has been living with leukemia for 16 years), 405 Fontaine Place, Ridgeland, MS 39157 or to Oakdale Baptist Church Building Fund, 1872 Highway 471 North, Brandon, MS 39047.