Cletis French Jackson was born April 19, 1925, in St Louis MO. Cletis died at the age of ninety-three on April 21, 2018. She is predeceased by her husband of sixty-one years, Thomas A. Jackson (Roswell, GA) mother, Emma Fernandez, father, Allan George French, sister, Delores French Kilgore and two brothers, Kenny and Allan French.
Surviving are her daughter, Jennifer Jackson Walls and two sons, Robert Allen Jackson and Thomas Edward Jackson. Cletis is survived by nine grandchildren: Melissa Jackson Debardeleben, Mathew Thomas Jackson, Robert Jeremiah Jackson, Corrie Jackson Hayes, Nathan Davis Jackson, Amelia Anne Jackson, Benjamin David Jackson, Rachel Nicole Walls and Hannah Grace Walls. She was so proud of her fifteen great grandchildren: Henry, Mary Taylor, Charles Tucker, Graham, Thomas, Collins, Davis, Jackson, Luke, Harris, Merrin, Ford, Ruth, Kathryn and number 15 is on the way.
At nine, Cletis lost her mother in a tragic auto accident. She and her three younger siblings were placed in a St Louis orphanage where they lived together until each graduated from high school.
Cletis became an RN at Jewish Hospital in St Louis, MO where she met and married Tom in 1947. With their first born child, Tommy, the couple shipped out for Guam, where Tom served for two years with the US Air Force during the Korean War.
Cletis and Tom moved to Dunwoody in 1964 by way of Birmingham, AL and Knoxville, TN. “Cle”, as she was affectionately known to friends and family, was an active member of Dunwoody Methodist Church, as well as a past president and founding member of the Dunwoody Garden Club for fifty-three years. She had an undeniable “green thumb”. She could always bring life back to any plant placed in her care. She knew exactly what they needed. She retired from her nursing career after working at Crawford Long Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, and finally, Peachford Hospital in Dunwoody.
She was a compassionate, courageous, genuine, resilient and inspiring woman and leader. She was counted as a dear friend by so many over the years. No matter the circumstance, her children never doubted her love for them. She and her green thumb will surely be missed!
Memorial to be held on
Thursday, April 26th at
Dunwoody United Methodist Church
1548 Mt. Vernon Rd
Dunwoody, GA 30338
Visitation 12:30pm
Service 1:30pm
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