Mary Tharp Jackson, 90, died at her Jackson residence on Thursday, April 25, 2013.
Mary was born in Gibson, Co. on December 25, 1922, the daughter of the late Samuel Evans and Lillian Lee Witherspoon Tharp. She was married to Raymond Jackson for sixty eight years, separated only by his death in May 2010.
She worked as secretary of the Bemis Pentecostal Church, and of the Tennessee District UPC. She retired as financial manager of the Bemis Post Office with twenty seven years of service.
Her love was her family and serving her Lord Jesus Christ. She expressed her love to God by teaching Sunday school for youth and later, adults, for nearly sixty eight years. She served in leadership positions of the Ladies Auxiliary, teacher training programs, and seminars on the local, state, and national levels for the United Pentecostal Churches. Her family consisting of four children, fourteen grandchildren, and twenty two great grandchildren, are a testimony to her belief in hard work, personal responsibility and devotion to God.
She was preceded in death by her husband Raymond, as well as a sister, Eloise Speer; two brothers, James and Horace Tharp and a grandson, Evan Weaver.
She is survived by her son, Richard Jackson (Melba), daughters, Danita Sykes (Jerry), Carole Gordon (Al) and Gayla Morris (Vernon), thirteen grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren, two sisters, Florine Tidwell and Grace Holland and one brother Harold Tharp.
Services: Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, April 29, 2013 at the Calvary Church Ministries with Rev. Ron Brown, Rev. Cliff Walker and Rev. Bill Luther officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Steven Jackson, Jason Sykes, Justin Morris, Damon Morris, Brett Gordon and Shane England.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, April 28, 2013 from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Arrington Funeral Directors and on Monday, April 29, 2013 from 1:00 PM until service time at Calvary Church Ministries.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the following church groups supported by Mrs. Jackson. The Calvary Church Ministries Building Fund, 235 Moize Cut-off Road, Jackson, TN 38305, Resonate Church 2817 West End Ave. Suite 126-147 Nashville, TN 37203 and Christ Central Ministries 159 Church Street N.E. Wagoner, SC 29201.
Arrington Funeral Directors, 148 W. University Parkway, 731/668-1111
www.arringtonfuneralgroup.com