Elmira Jackson

Elmira (Myra) Jackson was born August 28th, 1937 in Newnan, GA, to the proud parents of the late Rev. John W. Whatley, Sr. and Mattie J. (Glass) Whatley. She departed this life in Grant Hospital Columbus, OH on July 12th, 2020. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Joseph M. Jackson, her brothers, John Will Whatley, Jr., Delano Whatley, and Milton D. Whatley, Sr.

Myra received her early education in the public schools of Newnan, GA. She graduated from Howard Warner High School and later that year married Howard Thornton, Jr. From that union, two sons were born, Howard Thornton, III and Harold Thornton. Howard was a military man and the family soon moved to Hawaii where Harold was born. Later they returned to Tacoma Washington. Myra got sick there and her Mother traveled from Newnan to Tacoma to bring her and the boys home. Myra moved to Columbus Ohio in 1959 and later she and Howard divorced.

Myra touched the lives of everyone she came in contact with and was especially proud of her over 42 years in the nursing and health care industry. Myra took a nurse’s aide job in labor and delivery at White Cross Hospital which became Riverside Hospital in 1961. Years later Riverside and Grant merged to become Ohio Health. Myra started nursing school and finally received her Master’s Degree in nursing from Franklin University. She held many positions at Grant, including Nurse Clinician Manager, Nurse Manager of the 8th floor and was assigned to a special task force to install a new software system for Central Scheduling. Myra traveled and visited many hospitals around the country including Tucson Arizona where she met Chris Shaw Bengds. Chris and Myra became instant friends and still are. The software company was Tempus Software and after the new system was installed in Ohio Health they started a users group. Myra was the president of that group and they all really loved her. As they would say “whatever Miss Myra wants, Miss Myra gets” including fireworks at the conclusion of the users sessions. Myra became the director of Central Scheduling and she retired Ohio Health in that position. She then went on to become a consultant at Ohio Health. It was at this time she adopted her little dog Benji. Myra also worked part time at the Heritage House as 3rd shift nurse manager for 20 years. She was also the owner of Myra’s Antiques and Collectables but decided to close the store after her husband Joe became ill.

Myra had a beautiful soprano voice and could raise the roof off of her Father’s church. Sadly she lost most of that after thyroid surgery after returning to Georgia from Tacoma Washington. Myra married Joseph Jackson in the mid to late sixties. No children from that union but certainly acquired an extended family. She loved to travel and established a bucket list in her late sixties. Included on the list was to learn ballroom dancing, to ride in a hot air balloon, to learn to swim and to ride across country on the back of a Harley Davidson Motorcycle. She accomplished everything on her list except the cross country ride.

She leaves to cherish her memory, two sons, Howard (Barbara) Thornton III and Harold C. Thornton; sister, Sharon A. “Joyce” Brown; 10 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren; two special nieces, Angela Brown who was her care giver and Doris Jackson; a few special friends, Lula Gilbert, Anita Jefferson, Chris Shaw Bengds and Jackie Stuart; and a whole lot of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who loved her!

Myra was affectionately called Miss Monjay because of her “Whatever Miss Myra wants, Miss Myra gets” attitude. But what she really wanted was for her family to love and appreciate one another. Let’s do that for her.