JACKSON, Lester Oliver, serial number 2873278, born 24 March 1896, served in World War One in the U.S. Army as a Private in Company M, 4th Regt. and was honorably discharged 28 Dec 1918, at Camp Gordon, GA. His discharge papers list him as 5 feet 7½ inches, blue eyes, brown hair, dark complexion. Lester married Gertie May STAGGS on 7 April 1918 in Wayne County, Tennessee. Gertie May STAGGS was the daughter of Matthew Hiram STAGGS and Nancy Elizabeth STAGGS. Matthew Hiram STAGGS was born in 1876, the son of Gideon L. STAGGS and Nancy R. E. MURPHY. Matthew married Nancy Elizabeth on 13 May 1901 and he was struck by lightning and died a short time after on 8 Aug 1910. He is buried in Rich STAGGS Grass Lot Cemetery. He and his wife Nancy Elizabeth STAGGS had four children, Gertie May, born 15 Sep 1902, Coleman, born 1903, d. 1903; Delcie, born 1906, died 19 Oct 1908; and Pearl, born 1 March 1910. Nancy Elizabeth STAGGS was the daughter of Henry L. STAGGS and Emmaline BREWER.

Lester Oliver JACKSON and Gertie May STAGGS had the following children: Esther Earline JACKSON, b. 13 Nov 1919, married Grady Willard BREWER 29 June 1939; Nona Monie JACKSON, b. 21 Feb 1922, married John C. BREWER 10 Aug 1940; Betty Carlie JACKSON, b. 7 Aug 1924, married Elmer Levoy BLAIR 20 Sep 1942; Chester Alvin JACKSON, b. 27 March 1927, married Pamela CAMERON 10 Nov 1952; Ima Doris JACKSON, b. 22 March 1930, married Robbie FRAZIER 27 April 1946, Robbie died later and Ima married 2) Rolland Hugh COFFEY, Jr., on 4 Nov 1969; Delcie Ann JACKSON, b. 12 July 1933, married Donald McKINNEY 15 Sep 1953; Velcie Jane JACKSON, b. 12 July 1933, d. 24 Dec 1933; Junior Landon JACKSON, b. 16 Sep 1936, married Betty May ODLE, 18 May 1963; Leggy Lucille JACKSON, b. 28 Feb 1939, married Willard McWilliams 23 Sep 1961, d. 16 Jan 1993; Vivian Douglas Franklin JACKSON, b. 13 April 1941, married Patrica Odle DICKEY 25 March 1967, d. 16 July 1976; Dinah Lynn JACKSON, b. 27 Aug 1946, married Jack VANDYGRIFF, 11 Jan 1965.

Lester Oliver JACKSON, died 16 Sep 1979 in Nashville, Tennessee and is buried next to his wife, Gertie, in the Walnut Grove Cemetery, Wayne County, Tennessee.

Lester Oliver JACKSON was the son of William James “Boise” JACKSON and Mandy Jane HUNT. He was the grandson of William J. JACKSON [whose photograph in Confederate uniform appears on the front cover of this issue – editor] and Jane SURRATT. Lester was the great-grandson of Andrew JACKSON and Frances STAGGS. Submitted by Garry BREWER, P.O. Box 2025, Grand Junction, CO. 81502.

[Another biography of Lester Oliver JACKSON was also submitted and is published below.]

JACKSON, Lester O. born 24 March 1896, d. 16 Sep 1978, son of William James “Boice” JACKSON and Manda Jane HUNT. Siblings were Loveck Meredith JACKSON, died at age 17; Sallie Jane JACKSON married Hasen BREWER; William Andrew “Bill” JACKSON, married Ethel YORK; Lillian JACKSON, died when a baby; Hershall May JACKSON, married Gracie BRYANT; Ruschell Clay JACKSON (twin to Hershall May) , married Mary HASKIN; Zula Ann JACKSON, married Clifford MARTIN; Albert TAYLOR JACKSON, married Susie SKELTON. Lester O. JACKSON was the fifth child of ten born to “Boice” and “Mandy” JACKSON. He was raised in Wayne County, Tennessee in the Mt. Hope Community.

Lester JACKSON was married to Gertie Mae STAGGS daughter of Matthew and Lizzie STAGGS STAGGS on 7 April 1918 at Allens Creek. They had eleven children. They lived at Allens Creek, Dog Creek and at Wrigley, Tennessee where he worked at the Furnace. He worked at the Iron Ore Factory at Allens Creek. All this was during the first few years of raising their family. Later on they lived at Mt. Hope on Green River near Waynesboro. They made two trips to California in the ’50’s and worked several years on several chicken ranches, later returning to Tennessee to live in the Topsy Community for a while and finally settling back down at Mt. Hope. There they finished raising their younger children. They attended the Mt. Hope Methodist Church and were baptized in the early 1960’s by Bro. LANCASTER at the Mt. Hope bridge and became members of the Mt. Hope Methodist Church. They loved their family and their friends and neighbors. They loved to make a garden and share with them. Lester O. was a person who loved to hunt, trap, fish and farm. His favorite was groundhog hunting. He had great respect for the leaders of our country. He always kept up with current world affairs and the American Legion. He loved our flag and what it stood for. He loved his fellow man, his family. He was a good man.