Obituary of Beatrice Jackson

Beatrice “Bea” Jackson, daughter of the late Vester and Ruth Harris, was born June 13, 1931, in Wedowee, Alabama.  The second oldest of 8 children, she attended public schools in Wedowee and was a proud 1954 graduate of Alabama A & M University, located in Hunstville, Alabama.  At an early age she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and joined Antioch Missionary Baptist Church where she was a dedicated member for many years.

Bea was the proud mother of three children from her first marriage to the late John L. Molden.  She was united in holy matrimony to Edward Jackson of Cincinnati, Ohio in 1982.  The two would remain happily married until his passing in May, 1985. 

For twelve endearing years, Bea taught in Wedowee.  In 1964, she and her family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where she served for thirty loving years as a beloved school teacher at Taft Elementary.  In 1969 Bea joined and became a very active member of Tryed Stone Missionary Baptist Church where she served as head of the Usher Board for many years.  In addition to her committed church life, Bea loved gardening (flowers and vegetables), traveling, spending time with family, journaling, crafting, taking pictures and making family photo albums, and volunteering for organizations like Crayons to Computers.  She could also be found watching the Home Shopping Network and ordering religiously from the JC Penny Catalogue!  Bea’s favorite color was red.  Her favorite time was Thanksgiving when all her family was together eating and watching football.  She loved gospel music and kept it playing almost all the time.  Though she admittedly wasn’t the best singer, she was always glad to, as she said, “make a joyful noise unto the Lord.”  And she did.

Bea moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 2012 to live with her youngest son, Greg Molden.  She passed away in his home on October 1, 2017 surrounded by family.

Bea will be remembered most for her unwavering faith in God, her forgiving heart, for her dedication to her children and all of her grandchildren, and for how she fought through the hardest of times to uplift her family and make sure they had their best chance in this life. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Vester and Ruth Harris, her brothers, Eugene and Jesse Harris; her sisters-in-law Rose Harris (Jesse), and Rosetta Harris (Charles); and her brother-in-law, Johnny Gantt (Leugenia).

Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her children: Sandra Fetuga (Susie Jackson) of Nashville, Tennessee, Jeffery Molden of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Gregory Molden of Atlanta, Georgia; daughter-in-law, Consuelo Molden (Jeffery); three brothers, Charles Harris, James Harris (Lula), and Vester Harris (Florene); three sisters, Leugenia Gantt, Bernice Wright (John A. Wright) and Maggie Green; six grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren, and a host of other nieces, nephews and friends.