JACKSON, Alice "Jo" , 90, of Valrico, FL passed away peacefully on April 25, 2018 after a short battle with lung cancer.  She was born on October 29, 1927 in Little Rock, AR to Harold and Hellen Crowder.  She married Morris Jackson in December 1945 and remained married for 55 years until his death in 2001.

Throughout her life, Jo's constant focus was her family, her friends, and her faith.  She was a loving and supportive wife, a tender and attentive mother, and a proud and adoring grandmother and great-grandmother.  She was loyal to her friends and took great joy in giving of her many talents.  She was faithful and diligent in her service to her church by teaching children and singing in the choir for over 80 years.  She had a beautiful soprano voice, played piano by sight-reading and by improvisation, and shared her love of music in any way that would further God's work.

She viewed her primary role as that of wife, mother, and homemaker…and she excelled in each of these areas.  But she also helped to support the family by working outside of the home in various school, retail, and clerical positions. In whatever free time she could find, her passion was to bring joy to others through her artistic talents in quilting, knitting, crocheting, and embroidery.  Having been taught by her grandmother, all of her work was meticulously done by hand.  Since she viewed her talent as a gift from God to serve others, every stitch "was prayed over" and had to be perfect. (If not perfect, she would rip it out and start over!)  Although she was modest in evaluating her own work, our family will tell you that these are some of our greatest treasures.

Since moving to Florida in 2007, she enjoyed making new friends and new memories with her church and her community.  She was a member of First Baptist Church of Brandon, the Grace Sunday School class, and the Silvertone Choir.  She was also a member of the Strawberry Ridge Homeowners Association, the Strawberry Ridge Singers, and the Arts and Crafts Club.

Jo was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, her daughter Helen Simpson, granddaughters Kristi, Kelli, and Amanda Simpson, great-granddaughter Ella Jackson, brother Nick (Barbara) Crowder and sister Martha (John) Skelton.  We know that they have been reunited in Heaven.

Jo is survived by her sons Mike (Candy) and Curtis Jackson, brother Russell (Maryellen) Crowder, six grandchildren John (Tiffany) and Jeffrey (Andrea) Jackson, Andrew (Holly) Jackson and Addison Jackson, Callie Reynolds, and Page Rochelle, and twelve great-grandchildren Madysen Hamilton, Aletheia and Amiens Jackson, Zachary, Tristan, Ryker, and Everly Jackson, Bentley and Colt Jackson, Tyler and Cole Reynolds, and Sophie Rochelle.

Her family will receive friends on Monday, April 30, 2018 from 10 – 11am with the memorial service beginning at 11am at First Baptist Church Brandon, 216 North Parsons Avenue, Brandon, FL  33510.  Interment and graveside services will follow at a later date in North Little Rock, AR, where she will be buried next to her beloved husband.  Memorials may be given to First Baptist Church Brandon Music Department.