Willie Roberta Smith Jackson

Willie Roberta Smith Jackson, 96 years of age, passed on at 1:30 PM on Sunday, January 11, 2015. She leaves behind her eldest, Patricia and middle son, Ewin, four Grandchildren, Jenny, Stephanie, Lindsey, Jason and one Great Grandchild, Desiree. Her youngest son William R. Jackson (Billy), 1958-2012 preceded his mother in death. Ewin, her loving and devoted son was her primary caregiver over the long last years.

Roberta was born on December 10, 1918 in Paducah, Kentucky, the daughter of Captain Billy R. Smith and Eleanor Estelle Jordan. Her father was a Riverboat Captain who navigated the Ohio, Mississippi and Cumberland Rivers. Her mother was a midwife and LVN.

Roberta spent many days up and down the river with her family. She possessed a wonderful youthful heart and sense of humor. She loved to dance and in her day won a Charleston contest. She made an unforgettable cherry cobbler, took her children to church and was a woman of faith and remarkable goodness.

Roberta relocated from New Orleans with her husband, E. O. Jackson Jr. and youngest child Billy to San Antonio in 1965. She is a survivor of domestic abuse, the subject of her daughter, Patt Blue's family memoir, Living On A Dream: A Marriage Tale, published in 1998 by The University Press of Mississippi.

Roberta was a rare, simple, generous and moral woman who would in her own words, "crawl in the snow up to my knees if somebody needed me." She was a dedicated homemaker, wife and mother for the greater part of her life, but also made her way in the middle years by working with young children in day care and as a sitter for the elderly.

Her true friendship and kindness of spirit will be remembered especially by her beloved daughter-in-law, Ginger, long time enduring friend Sofia, Julie, good neighbor and protective caregiver; and Millie, close friend of many, many years.

In days of health, she was a member of the Laurel Heights Seventh-Day-Adventist Church. A faithful believer in heaven and in the second coming, she was not afraid of death, assured that the Lord would take her when it was time.

Roberta will be missed for her ready presence to listen, her ritual daily prayers and embracing unconditional love for all. Roberta was a rare earth angel whose memory will live on by her example of authentic Christian love, forgiveness and sacrifice.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Porter Loring on McCullough Ave.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

FRIDAY

JANUARY 16, 2015

11:00 A.M.

PORTER LORING CHAPEL