Mary Gladys Deal Jackson

Mary Gladys Deal Jackson, age 88, died peacefully Thursday evening, January 7, 2010. Mary was born in El Campo, Texas, November, 30 1921 to John B. Deal and Mary Gholson Deal. Mary was the oldest of 5 children. She was the salutatorian of the 1938 Class of Waller High School. She attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College graduating in 1941, a member of the honor society Alpha Chi. Upon graduation she pursued her lifelong dream of teaching, serving in the public schools of Spicewood, Humble, San Angelo and Fort Worth, Texas. She married Robert A. Jackson in Waller, June 20, 1946. Upon marriage, she dedicated herself to assisting her husband in his theological studies and in his ministry in the Christian, Disciples of Christ, and Episcopal churches in both Texas and Oklahoma. Mary established pre-school programs at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Lampasas and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Austin. Mary and Robert had three children, Ronald Ormand Jackson, Sylvia Anne Jackson and Charles Andrew Jackson. Mary was an avid reader and she and Robert enjoyed participating in Great Books discussion groups wherever the family lived. Mary and Robert retired to San Marcos in 1982. Living on a small acreage outside of town, they enjoyed gardening and using the skills honed as children on their family farms. Throughout her life Mary devoted her energy to political advocacy, supporting the cause of peace and justice. She was instrumental in founding the Great Books group of San Marcos, of which she was an ardent supporter and contributor She is preceded in death by her husband Robert, her son Charles, her sister Ruth L. Morgan, and her brother John B. Deal. She is survived by her daughter Sylvia Jackson Perry and granddaughter Elena Perry, sisters, Flora Jane Whisenant and husband Norman, Frances Jean Ray and husband Dan, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to The Carter Center, Friends Committee on National Legislation or a charity of choice. Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Monday, January 11, 2010, at the St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 501 S. Chestnut St. Lampasas, Texas, with the Rev. R. Reid Morgan, III officiating. Burial will be at the Kempner City Cemetery.