Delphia Jackson passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, in the early morning of April 20, 2019. Delphia was born on January 25, 1925 in McDade, Texas to Thomas J. and Maude Galyean. When Delphia was a very young girl, they moved to a farm near Old Ocean, Texas where Thomas and Maude raised their two sons, John and Jeff, and their seven daughters, Marylan, Ruth, Ruby, Delphia, Edith, Stella, and Bonnie. She attended school at the San Bernard School, a small one room schoolhouse and she graduated from West Columbia High School.
Delphia was a remarkably strong Christian woman, loved by many and known for her delicious cheesecakes that she would make for friends, family, and church members that were grieving a loss or celebrating a special occasion. Delphia was very gifted with her baking and cooking skills, so this became her ministry as she touched countless lives over the years. Her cheesecakes became so legendary that in a church auction that was raising funds for the youth group, two of her cheesecakes sold for several hundred dollars each. Delphia was ecstatic and so very proud. She was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Lake Jackson for about 70 years. She loved her church deeply and was always in attendance, seated in her regular spot.
Delphia also had a huge heart and love for children, adopting two sons with her first husband, Lawrence O. Lee, and helping raise two more children with her second husband, Dick Jackson. She also spent many years working in the church nursery. Delphia was an untiring and selfless mother, providing love and steady Christian guidance to her children. Even as a widowed mother of two young boys, she remained strong and unwavering in her faith and provided a loving, secure home for her sons. Later in life after her two sons were grown, she had the opportunity to take a newborn baby girl into her care, and she did not hesitate. She fell in love with this little girl and essentially became her mother. About 17 years later, when Delphia was 73 years old, the opportunity to care for and raise a newborn baby arose once again. Again, she took this child as her own and gave him all the love and care in her heart, just as she done with her own children. When Delphia passed away, her goal of seeing this young man get his college education and become independent and successful, remained her driving force in life.
Delphia is preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings. Delphia is also preceded in death by her first husband, Lawrence O. Lee and her second husband, Richard “Dick” Jackson. She is survived by her sons, Gary Lee and Gregg Lee, daughter-in-law, DeNae Lee, grand-daughter, Lizzie Lee and grandson, Reuben Lee. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by “adopted in love” children, Melissa Martinez Gaillard and Damen Justin Wyman.
Funeral services for Delphia will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at First Baptist Church of Lake Jackson with Rev. Chad Alexander officiating. Visitation will precede the service at First Baptist Church at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Lake Jackson in Delphia’s honor
