Dr. Herbert Jackson transitioned at home in the care of Hospice. He was born on January 24, 1930 during the “Great Depression.” After graduation from Chicago’s Wendall Phillips High School, he was drafted into the army in 1951. He was a corporal assigned to 8th Army 802nd Engr. Aviation Bn. Co. B, served from December 1951 to December 1952. He did a tour of duty in Suwon, Korea during the Korean War.
In 1953, Dr. Jackson enrolled in Wilson Junior College where he met the love of his life, Edna Marie Counts. After receiving his Associate Degree from Wilson, Dr. Jackson enrolled in Chicago Teachers College (now known as Chicago State University). He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree that led to his acceptance into Podiatry School in 1958. In 1963 Dr. Jackson and his wife, the former Edna Marie Counts, moved to Rockford with son Christopher (Chris). Daughter Kelli was born two years later. Dr. Jackson began his Rockford podiatry practice in the offices of Dr. Jefferson (Jeff) Ish. While Dr. Jackson was building a practice that would be fulltime, he also worked for Lowell Hawkinson in recruiting minorities for an employment agency called Availability. He practiced podiatry for 39 years before retiring.
Dr. Jackson worked hard, enjoyed life, took cruises and traveled abroad with family he adored, and enjoyed hiatuses to his condo in Florida. He was also a fashionable guy; loved buying clothes, shoes and eye wear. He was a member of the American Podiatry Medical Association and founding member of the National Podiatry Medical Association. He served as a past member of the Winnebago County Board and Winnebago County Sheriff, Fire Commission and American Podiatry Medical Association (APMA) and National Podiatry Medical Association (NPMA). He was primary donor and primary fundraiser for first campaign of Victory Bell, Rockford’s first Black alderman. Dr. Jackson supported many community groups including NAACP, Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Taus, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Pi Gamma Omega Chapter, Rockford’s chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., AARC at Booker. He was a volunteer for the Northern Illinois Diabetes Coalition, was a former vice president for the Winnebago County Health Department Black Health Care Initiative, and was a former member of the Rosecrance Board. He was preceded in death by his wife Edna Marie, father Willie Sr., mother Julia Jackson-Clarke, brother Willie Jr. He leaves to cherish his memory son Christopher Herbert Jackson, daughter Kelli Lynn Jackson, first cousins Mary Twitty, Julia Simon, James Morgan, Abram Morgan, Joyce McGowan, second cousins Toiya Butler White, and Qiana Amons.
The family has engaged the services of Collins and Stone Funeral Home. Visitation will be at Pilgrim Baptist Church, 1703 S. Central Avenue, on Saturday, January 15, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. He will be buried beside his wife Edna, in the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois near Joliet, Illinois.
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