Mary Jackson

Mary Pauline (Polly) Jackson of Mexia passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 in Parkview Hospital in Mexia. Funeral services will be held at Blair - Stubbs Funeral Home Chapel in Mexia on Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 11 a.m. Rev. Marcus Sheffield officiating. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at Blair - Stubbs. Mrs. Jackson was born in Concord, Texas on November 26, 1914 to Estelle Moody Chandler and John Robert Chandler. She attended Westminster College in Tehuacana And obtained a BA degree from the University of Texas in 1935. During World War II in 1945, she worked at the prisoner of war camp in Mexia where she saw the first Japanese POW's walk from the Mexia train depot to the camp that was located where the Mexia State School now exists. She worked as a teacher for 30+ years beginning in the community of Donie. She then Taught at Tehuacana, Forest Glade, Mexia State School and later with Mexia Independent School District. She integrated the staff in 1966 at Dunbar High School and was there for 2 years when the schools were totally integrated. She married James P. (Buck) Jackson on April 3, 1942 and had two daughters, Jan Jackson of the Woodlands, Tx and Jo Bennett of Mexia. She was predeceased by Her husband on March 29, 1971. She is also survived by a brother-in-law, Ivan Jackson, Sr. and wife, Dolly, nephews: Ivan Jackson, Jr., Steve Jackson and Donie Maden and niece, Diane Tisdale. She was a lifelong member of the First Christian Church in which she was very active in the Christian Women's Fellowship. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma,. International Teachers Sorority and the American Association of Retired Teachers. She also served as the memorial chairperson of the American Cancer Society, Limestone Co. Unit, for many years. Mrs. Jackson was love and admired by her students and fellow teachers and many friends. She touched many lives with her ready smile and unfailing kindness. The family requests that memorials be made to the Mexia High School Academic Sweater Fund P. O. Box 534, Mexia, Texas or to the American Cancer Society, c/o Jim Parks, 1304 Tamarisk Drive, Mexia, Texas 76667. The family would like to express their appreciation to caregivers, Florence, Veita, Elouise and Vicki. .