Marcia Nelson Jackson

Marcia Nelson Jackson passed away on January 27, 2026, after a courageous battle with brain cancer. She lived a beautiful life centered on family, music, faith, and service to others—a life unexpectedly cut short while she was still looking forward to the future.

Marcia was born on October 19, 1967, to Randy Eileen Eatough and Richard Allen Nelson and was raised in Tarzana, California. She married the love of her life, Ronald Jay Jackson, on September 23, 1995. After living in Santa Monica and La Cañada, California, for three years, they moved to Texas in 1998, where they built a life devoted to family, church, and community.

During the summer of 1988, Marcia interned at the National Conference of State Legislatures in Washington, DC. She later interned for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1989–1990 and at the Office of President Ronald Reagan in 1990. Marcia earned her undergraduate degree from UCLA in 1990 and graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1994, where she served on the Board of Editors for the Vanderbilt Journal of Transactional Law.

Marcia enjoyed a fulfilling and distinguished legal career spanning 31 years. She practiced as a litigator and employment law specialist at Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker in Los Angeles, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Dallas, and ultimately with her beloved colleagues at Wick Phillips.

A devoted friend, Marcia maintained close relationships from childhood while continually forming new and meaningful friendships throughout her life. As a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she dedicated countless hours to teaching, service, and leadership within her church community.

Marcia had a deep love for athletics, music, and activity of all kinds. In high school, she was a cheerleader and Senior Class President. At UCLA, she played the piccolo in the marching band, served as a Bruin Belle (official hostess of UCLA), worked for the UCLA Athletic Department, and was a statistician for the basketball team. She was honored as UCLA Homecoming Queen in 1989 and worked with the national youth program, the American Roundball Corporation.

She carried this love of music, dance, and athletics into her family life, fostering these passions in her children. Marcia delighted in watching them perform and compete, traveling across the country to attend as many games and performances as possible. To Marcia, family was her everything. And she led by example leading and living a life built on love and faith.

Throughout her life, Marcia celebrated those around her and consistently sought to lift others in times of need. An avid crafter, she found immense joy in creating and sharing thoughtful gifts to mark special occasions, milestones, and achievements of those she loved. And when those she loved faced their greatest challenges, Marcia was always there - generously sharing her time, compassion, wisdom, expertise, and unwavering advocacy.

Marcia is preceded in death by her parents and her younger brother, Paul Nelson (Erica). She is survived by her husband, Ronald; her four children, Samuel, Kendra, William, and Alexa; her sisters, Judith Miller (Lance) and Joanna Nofsinger (Justin); and many cherished extended family members and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 7, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 500 W McDonwell School Rd., Colleyville, Texas 76034, with a viewing from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 10:30 a.m. and a reception immediately afterward; graveside services will be held at 12:00 noon at Bluebonnet Cemetery (by invitation).