Fred A. Jackson, Jr.

Fred A. Jackson, Jr., 77, was born and raised in Norfolk, Va., the only son of 4 children, to the late Fred A. Jackson Sr. and Mildred D. Jackson.  His younger sister Yvonne J. Williams also preceded him in death.  Fred was educated in the Norfolk Public School system and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in the class of 1961.  After graduating high school, Fred worked while attending classes at Norfolk State University (Norfolk Division of Virginia State College). He graduated with a B.S. degree in Physical Education, January 1967.  While attending Norfolk State University Fred met and married the love of his life. 

Fred was baptized at Second Calvary Baptist Church and participated in the scouting program and civil rights demonstrations in Norfolk, Virginia. With the Youth Division of the NAACP, he also participated in the Historic March on Washington, D.C., in 1963.

Immediately after graduating from NSU in 1967, Fred began his teaching/professional career with the NYC Board of Education in Brooklyn, NY.  Shortly after he began teaching, his career was interrupted when he was drafted to serve stateside in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Fred was released from active duty in 1969 and Honorably discharged in 1973. He remained with the NYC Board of Education until his retirement in 1998. 

During his educational career, Fred began as a physical education instructor, later earning advanced degrees at Brooklyn College and the City University of NY.  This allowed him to become Director of the Gates Program, Assistant Principal, and finally retiring as a Principal in 1998.

Fred worked with youth and adults all of his adult life.  He began working with the Boy Scouts while still a college student and started a troop at P.S. 5 in Brooklyn.  He continued as a Scout Leader of both Cub and Boy Scouts at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY. 

For 18 years, Fred was well known in the Clinton Hill community as “General Jackson”.  This name was given to him by the adults enrolled in his physical fitness program held at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church on Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. The famous motto for his fitness program was “Keep it Trim at Jackson’s Gym”.

Fred was also an avid sports and fitness fan where he enjoyed baseball, basketball and was learning golf.  He ran track in high school and college, and was on the championship Bay Ridge Football team of 1977.  Fred’s love of tennis took him to amateur tournaments throughout the U.S. and Aruba, where he earned many trophies and awards.  He was also able to share his love of tennis with his children by teaching them to play, in addition to working with various youth tennis programs throughout the years.

Fred was very active in the NY Metro Norfolk State University Alumni Association serving in various leadership capacities, and aiding in giving scholarships to deserving students. He was also a budding entrepreneur who focused on health issues.

Fred had a love for music, and would often be found on a Saturday morning playing classics on his record player (if he wasn’t on his way to the tennis court). In his bag, you would always find books that he dedicated a large portion of his life to acquiring, reading, and gaining knowledge, that he would impart to anyone - hungry for the truth and willing to listen.  You could always count on him to tell you, “he had a book on that” if you wanted to learn more.  He wanted to make sure you knew “that to hear the truth is one thing, but to research and learn for yourself is powerful”.

Fred successfully fought prostate cancer for more than 20 years and peacefully succumbed, at home, to a neurological disease, with his wife of 55 years by his side on January 30, 2021. 

He leaves to cherish his memories; wife, Beatrice B. Jackson; 4 children: LaDonya J. Jackson (Norfolk, VA), Shania L. Jackson (Charlotte, NC), Damalia J. Ruffin (Bryan) Bowie, MD, Fred A. Jackson lll (Kym) Brooklyn, NY; 2 sisters, Sandra J. Spellman (Norfolk, Va), Venessa J. Yancey (Nathaniel) Norfolk, Va; aunt, Velma D. Gilliam (Norfolk, Va), 6 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren,  and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and colleagues.

On Friday, February 12, 2021, family and friends of Fred A. Jackson, Jr. participated in a virtual moment of reflection on his life. You may view the recording of this virtual gathering by visiting the "Memento" section of this website.