Mrs. Roberta Locke Jackson of Clarkston passed away Monday, May 17, 2010. She was born May 26, 1923 in Lawrenceburg, TN and started playing piano in church at age 11. She began teaching piano at 12. She graduated from Lawrence County High School as Salutatorian in 1940 and attended Martin College in Pulaski, TN majoring in music. Her family moved to Mobile, AL at the start of World War II where her father helped manage the Naval shipyard and Roberta taught pre-school and piano. On February 26, 1944, she married Charles “Ray” Jackson in Boise, Idaho where he was stationed with the Army Air Corps. The couple returned to Tennessee in 1945 and both attended Peabody College. They moved several times before settling in Clarkston. Mrs. Jackson played the piano in churches for over 75 years. She was a member for over 50 years of Clarkston United Methodist Church where she continued to play the piano until last fall when due to failing health she stopped. Mrs. Jackson was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Ray; son, Joe David; and sister, Adah Locke. She is survived by her daughters, Charlotte Jackson of Big Canoe, Lynn Simpson and husband Mike of Tucker; son, James Jackson and wife Lucy of Dunkirk, MD, daughter-in-law, Margaret M. Jackson, of Lilburn; seven grandchildren; and three great grandsons. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 22nd at 11:00 a.m. at Clarkston United Methodist Church, Dr. Larry Amos and Rev. Ellen Hopkins officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Friday at A. S. Turner & Sons.
