Obituary of Lorraine Vivian Jackson

Lorraine Vivian Jackson (Speights), affectionately known as “Sweet Lorraine”, mom, mommy, mom’s, Momsky, Nanna, Big Nana and Sis, was born September  2, 1929 in New Brunswick, New Jersey to Charles Davis Speights, Sr. and Elva Miller-Speights.

Lorraine resided in the home her husband Kenneth Jackson, Jr. personally built, since 1954 with their seven children in Piscataway, New Jersey, until she entered eternal peace on Saturday, March 11, 2023.  She “dearly” loved her home and family.

Lorraine attended schools in New Brunswick and was employed at E.R. Squibb & Sons (now Bristol Myers-Squibb). She enjoyed traveling to her many family reunions especially to  Douglas Georgia.  It was very  important for her and family to know her family ancestry and also kept her children informed of their father’s family history. The joke was “know your family to avoid dating your family”.

Her life was a rich and varied one. She was a Guild Member  of Cross Roads Theater  in New Brunswick, NJ and volunteered  her services there from organizing luncheons to distributing programs for many years. She was an  original Woman's Auxiliary member for Holmes Marshall Fire House and volunteered  her time with fund raising to finance the fire house and purchase of a fire engine. The Holmes Marshal Fire House originally was a black run volunteer organization and it took many  Woman's Auxiliary meetings, Bar-B-Qs and fund raising by the women and men to fund it..

Lorraine loved her church Mount Zion A.M.E. and was inspired to enjoy  music especially because of her  mother Elva Miller Speights who was the original organist at the church. Lorraine was a Celestial Choir member under Edith Campbell and also a member of the Angelic Choir of  Mount Zion A.M.E, North Stelton.  She spent many summers as a concert member at the annual Ocean Grove Choir Festival in Ocean Grove, New Jersey  It was with great pleasure that she spent time there with her husband.

Lorraine was recognized by Mount Zion A.M.E. Church Celebrating the 188th Years program in October of  2015 as  a Senior Recognition Honoree. She spent years as a Stewardess and Usher.

She was predeceased by her father Charles David Speights, Sr. and mother Elva Speights, husband Kenneth Jackson Jr.; a son Kenneth “Bubbie” Jackson III and daughter Terri Jackson, sisters Jacquelyn Elva Speights, Patricia Speights; brothers, Frederick “Ricky” Speights, Ronald “Ronnie” Speights, and Charles “Sonny” Speights.

Left to cherish her memories are six children: daughters Beverly Richards (Peter), Diane Batacchi (Richard), Lesley Jackson; sons Rev. Brian Jackson, Sr. (Jacqueline) of Alabama, Randy Jackson, Ronald Jackson (Renine); a sister Joyce Speights-Foat of Somerset, NJ and sister-in-law Mary Speights of Fresno, California; eighteen grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.