Elizabeth Pitts Jackson

A Visitation will be held from 10:00am to 11:00am followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00am, Friday, August 16 at Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ, 3619 East 35th Street, Kansas City, Missouri.

We are each other's harvest; we are each other's business;

we are each other's magnitude and bond.

Gwendolyn Brooks, poet

Elizabeth Pitts Jackson began her 92-year life journey on November 3, 1926 in Kansas City, Kansas, as the firstborn child of Charline Ish Pitts and Evangelist Pitts. Her brother, Evangelist, Jr. followed two years later. She was extremely close to her cousin-sister Sylvia and her aunt Jearline. They all grew up together sharing clothes, food, fun, Sunday school at Walnut Boulevard Baptist Church, childhood games and girlhood dreams.

An apt student and quick learner, Elizabeth (often called Liz) attended elementary, junior high, and high school in Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. She passed on her love of learning to her daughters—Sonia and Judy, and her only son Robert Terrence —whom everyone called Terry.

Once she set her mind to it, there was no skill Liz could not master. She became a licensed beautician in Kansas City prior to moving her family to Los Angeles in 1956. There she worked as a beauty consultant, travel agent, and data entry clerk. In 1993 she retired from her position as secretary for the City of Los Angeles, Department of Airports looking forward to…

Going (back) to Kansas City…Kansas City here I come…

She returned to her birthplace, reconnecting with family, friends, and making new acquaintances as well. She met some new friends when she became a member of Palestine Missionary Baptist Church. She especially enjoyed the teachings of her Sunday school class with Deacon Eddie Walker and his wife Bernice.

Never a loner, social gatherings were her thing especially if there was card-playing, Bingo games, dancing, good conversation, and good music. Likewise, she enjoyed entertaining in her home which, no matter the time of day, was always company ready. Bathroom and kitchen were spotless, floors were vacuumed, and furniture free of dust.

As she began to slow down a bit, she was tagged with the nickname “Miss Daisy” as one of the cousins was always driving her somewhere. She embraced her new name and wore it like a badge of honor.

Dining out became a special treat as cousins Lonnie and Pat Cobb relished in taking her to fine and fun restaurants for lunch or dinner. She would brag for days about the new place and how she had stuffed herself with the tasty food.

Miss Daisy was particular about her appearance never leaving the house without being completely groomed, dressed, and made up—hair, face, everything.

Many people commented often about her hands. They were long, slender, perfectly shaped with always beautifully manicured nails—her own. With those hands she made skirts, dresses, suits, and jackets. For a time those hands made beautiful ceramic figurines that she gifted to friends and family members. An excellent cook of most anything, she was famous for her chili and would often take it frozen on the plane when traveling to share with family and friends.

As a member of a large and loving family, she flourished in her later years in the care of her beloved “Kansas City Cousins”— DeWyone Robinson, Willis and Grace Robinson, Phyllis Elliott, Lori Wilson and Brenda Butler. Each had specific tasks they did for her, distinct activities they enjoyed with her and each relished their own special relationship to her.

Nana was the love name used by her grand and great-grandchildren. She took such pleasure in seeing them, and being around them. She would make the foods they liked best, share secrets that only grandmothers can, and of course, slip them a few dollars from time to time.

On Saturday morning, August 10, a couple hours after midnight, as the stars were blinking and flickering her favorite colors… the angels came. They put on her wings, fastened them gently and whispered oh so softly, “Elizabeth, Elizabeth, we’ve come for to carry you home.”

God has smiled on me, He has set me free

God has smiled on me. He’s been good to me.

Rev. James Cleveland

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, Charline and Evangelist, her brother, Evangelist Jr., and her son, Robert Terrence Dunn. Left to cherish her memory are daughters, Sonia C. Howard (Samuel); and Judith Boswell Griffie. She will be deeply missed by her beloved grandchildren: Danielle E. Johnson (Edwin); Stephanie Willis (Tommie); Kelly Rambo (Charles); and Robert M. Griffie (Princella). She leaves adoring great-grandchildren Tamera Willis, Lauren McClinton, Kayla Johnson, Josiah Griffie, and Marissa Rambo. Others who will miss her good conversations and good food are her beloved cousins: Sylvia Walker, DeWyone Robinson, Sr., DeWyone Barnett, Cedric Barnett, Carlton Robinson, and Kim Andre Walker.

Ninety-two years of living is a long time by any standard. But Elizabeth Jackson (aka Liz, Cuz, Nana, and Miss Daisy) was anything but standard. She was saucy, sassy, and put the “feist” in feisty. She spoke her mind and seldom pulled punches. She was easy to know and she embodied the attributes that make a woman admirable—decency, honesty, respect for self and others, an unmatchable sense of humor, and love for family.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31