Carmen M. Jackson

Carmen Moore Jackson, 85, of Monroe, LA passed away on December 22, 2022 after living several years with COPD.

Carmen was born on August 17, 1937 to Howell and Louise Moore in Macon, GA. She grew up in Decatur, GA and graduated from Decatur High School in 1955. She had long summer visits to her grandparents’ farm in Lilburn, enjoying her many cousins and spending hours lying beneath the trees reading books, beginning a love for literature and writing that stayed with her always.

This farm was also where, 71 years ago, she met her beloved husband Kenneth Jackson. The teenagers had a double date soon after and have been together ever since.

Carmen married Ken in 1958 and graduated from Wesleyan College in Macon, GA in 1959 with a degree in English. She cherished her time at Wesleyan and the friends she made there remained close to her throughout her life.

Carmen and Ken began their life together in Crossett, Arkansas after her graduation. They jumped right into participating in the community and church and quickly made more lifelong friends. They raised their three children in Crossett until moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1970.

The ensuing six years gave Carmen the opportunity for exploration and new experiences. In an area rich with history and natural beauty, she was always planning the next outing. Anywhere within a three hour drive of Philadelphia was fair game for a day trip. She and Ken loved taking the children on trips and adventures-one of the favorites was a surprise trip to Disney World just after it opened in the 1970s. In 1976 the family moved again and settled in Monroe, Louisiana. Carmen resumed her involvement with her Crossett friends, joined St. Paul’s UMC and began making close friends in Monroe.

Later, when the children started college, she and Ken would begin traveling with a great passion-they visited China the first year it was open to American tourists and went on a six week tour of India from Bombay to Calcutta. Other extended trips included Japan, Russia, and Egypt.

Carmen was blessed to have many true friends and a very close family, whom she loved deeply and who loved her. She is survived by her devoted husband Kenneth, children Kim Wilson (Robert) of Silver Spring, MD, Kathy Anderson (Russell) of Roswell, GA, and Mike Jackson (Tracy) of Monroe, LA; grandchildren Betsy Finklea of Monroe, LA, Will Jackson (Katy) of Luling, LA, Jack Wilson of Baltimore, MD, Sarah Wilson of Brooklyn, NY, and Amy Anderson of Roswell, GA; great grandchild Isabelle Finklea of Monroe, LA, and sister Ann Moore of Decatur, GA.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 29th, 2022 at A.S. Turner &Sons Funeral Home in Decatur, GA with Visitation at 10 a.m. and Service at 11a.m. Burial will follow at Decatur Cemetery. We appreciate the assistance given by Mulhearn Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank all of their friends and neighbors for their wonderful support throughout the years, including special friend Carlene Howell.

Donations in the memory of Carmen can be made to St. Paul’s UMC, Monroe, LA, Wesleyan College, Macon, GA, or the charity of your choice.