Zelle Brinson Jackson

Zelle “Polly” Brinson Jackson, 80, of Oak Island, North Carolina, joined her beloved husband, Gene, in heaven on May 19, 2026.

An avid traveler, unwavering N.C. State Wolfpack fan and contributor, and loyal past Supreme President of the Benevolent, Patriotic Order of Does, Zelle was the aunt above all aunts. Though she had no children, she cherished her nieces and nephews as if they were her own.

Born July 16, 1945, to Woodrow and Nannie Brinson of Kenansville, North Carolina, Zelle was valedictorian of her James Kenan High School class and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She broke barriers as a programmer and later manager at IBM during a time when few women pursued such careers.

Zelle was a 25+ year volunteer with Make-A-Wish of Eastern North Carolina and an Oak Island sea turtle “nest mom” for more than a decade, in addition to other service to the community.

She was predeceased by her parents, Woodrow Wilson Brinson, Sr., and Nannie Pollock Brinson; her husband, Eugene “Gene” Alexander Jackson; sister-in-law, Marjorie Jackson Wiggins; and other members of the Jackson family.

She is survived by her brother, Woodrow “Woody” Wilson Brinson, Jr. (Connie); brothers-in-law, Talmadge Wiggins and Blake Jackson (Debbie); and numerous nieces and nephews including those she held particularly close relationships with: Karen Brinson Bell (Patrick), Kevin Brinson (Kimberly), Lisa Wiggins Taylor, and Bryan Wiggins (Annette); as well as great-nieces and nephew, Cora, Benjamin, and Danielle Brinson, and Sarah Wiggins (Martin).

Zelle’s life was blessed with friends across the United States. Especially dear to her and her family are Amy Tennant, Robin and Billy Gilligan, Jill and Mike Ostenski, Mary Beth Johnson, Ann Rigano, Janet Matoska, and the BPO Does of Raleigh and Wilmington, North Carolina.

A celebration of life will be held at a future date. A private committal service will take place at Mt. Elam Baptist Church, Roseboro, North Carolina.

Memorials may be made to the Friends of Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program (https://okiseaturtle.org/), P.O. Box 92 Oak Island, NC 28465; or the North Carolina State Student Aid Association (https://giving.ncsu.edu/), Campus Box 7207, Raleigh, NC 27695.