It is with great sorrow that Sherry Gordy, the daughter of Motown Founder, Berry Gordy has lost her mother, Jeana Elaine Jackson, after her long battle with Alzheimer’s Dementia. On the morning of January 25, 2020 at 8:30 A.M., Jeana, 78, peacefully transitioned, surrounded by friends and family in Las Vegas, Nevada
When hearing of her passing, Berry Gordy commented that Jeana had been a special person in his life, a great mother to their daughter, Sherry, and will definitely be missed.
Send flowers and cards to
Palms Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd.
Las Vegas NV 89146.
Donations to the Alzheimer’s Association in the name of Jeana Elaine Jackson. Your contribution will assist with finding a cure for this insidious disease.
The Life of Jeana Elaine Jackson
Jeana was the beloved daughter of the late Gladys Porter and McArthur Jackson Sr. She was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut with her 2 brothers, her mother, and grandmother, Miss Richard Porter.
She graduated from Hartford Public High School where she was an outstanding student. She became one of the first black majorettes at her high school. During her time at Hartford Public High School, she performed in several plays. Her hobbies included ice-skating, sledding, tennis, gymnastics and dance.
Her love of service included The Young Women’s Christian Association’s Y-Team program, The Young Democrats Association of America, The NAACP, and The Hartford Courant Newspaper. It was there at the newspaper that Jeana developed a passion for writing. This gift would become significant to her future career. She also enjoyed singing in her church choir, and ultimately received a voice scholarship to the prestigious Juilliard School of Music.
Her interest in the arts led her to pursue acting, modeling, dancing and subsequently finding her way to the Motor City where she became a Motown Records staff member. She landed her first job as the secretary to the VP of Sales, Barney Ales, who also became a mentor and guided her throughout her music career.
At Motown Records, you may have had a certain title but everyone “chipped in and fit in where they could get in.” Weldon Arthur McDougall III was Motown’s International Promotion Director and he took Jeana under his wing and armed her with the knowledge that equipped her to become the first female at Motown to work in promotions on various regional and national radio promotion campaigns.
Jeana was a go-getter. She co-wrote the song “True Love Can Be Beautiful” and was featured on the Jackson 5 ABC album.
Jeana continued following her dream and moved to Los Angeles, where she worked for several record labels such as Capital Records, Elton John’s Rocket Records, Norman Granzs Pablo Records, the hit-making producer Norman Whitfield and the Academy Award winning actor, Louis Gossett Jr.
Tom Noonan, of Billboard Magazine, appointed Jeana head of its Special Projects division. Jeana remained in the music industry for over 30 years, while raising her daughter.
Years later, she relocated to Las Vegas, joined the Desert Radiology staff, and remained there until she retired. During her retirement party, Mayor Oscar Goodman presented her with an award recognizing her excellence, professionalism and community leadership.
For those who did not know Jeana Elaine Jackson; she was intelligent, fun, positive, creative, a dear friend and confidant. Jeana’s final chapter in life was to author her memoirs. Unfortunately, before she could get to it, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
She is survived by her only child, Sherry Gordy, son-in-law Dexter Jasper, brother Gad Tyrone, two grandsons; George Cain Goldwair Jr. and Robert Dee Green; three great-grandchildren, George Cain Goldwair III, Amor Destiny Green, Aria Rim; her Motown Family, and so many other treasured family members and friends who will cherish her memories.
Sherry would especially like to thank:
Jeana’s closest and best friends, Patricia Bush and Jodi Williams…who stuck by her until the end; Her cousins, Robert Gordy Jr. and Marquel Jackson-Davis, Aunt Mary Waller, Aunt Carol Warrior, Aunt Irene Hunt; her dear friends, Cindy Street, Marilyn Mercer, Cinnamon Sands, CiCi Spencer, along with her mom Beulah Taylor, Craig Alan Thomas; Godmother Margaret Batts and Christopher Sharp-Binnings, for going through this journey and making her mom’s last days so filled with love.
A special thank you to Jeana’s counselor and caretaker, Andrea Ikeda, for her excellent work and loving care; the staff of Omni Care Hospice for their compassionate treatment, and the Palms Mortuary, for assistance with the arrangements.
Thanks to all of the friends & relatives for your love, prayers, and support.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
After moms final resting place, all floral arrangements will be graciously donated to Advanced Healthcare of Paradise located at 3455 Pecos-McLeod Interconnect, Las Vegas, NV 89121.
The family wishes to express their sincere thanks and appreciation for the many cards, phone calls, flowers, and other acts of kindness shown to them in their hour of bereavement.
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