IN LOVING MEMORY of
Mae Dee McConnell Jackson
Mae Dee brought beauty, virtue and a bright generous spirit to this world, which touched the lives of many. She was beloved by family and friends and has given us lasting, uplifting memories.
She was born into a family of pioneers in a small township in Oklahoma that valued hard work, friendship, civic duty and education. Her voice had a lyrical, almost musical quality, and everyone acknowledged she had the most beautiful eyes.
She was beloved by her parents Dink and Bessie, and her three brothers, Dean Cordell and Earl.
Early in her childhood and later in her youth she lived with her aunt and uncle, Clara and Gene McConnell and their children, Deva, Elmer, Plez and Burke. What fun times they had!! Mae Dee and Deva were the only girls in their families and became like sisters. They played. studied and went on school outings including basketball trips together.
Mae Dee graduated from Langston University and moved to New York, where she taught in the New York City Public Schools for more than two decades. A teacher’s teacher, she truly inspired her students. And such inspiration: giving “Donald” his name!
Mea Dee and Gene were married following his return from the Army after World War II. Together with their two children, Genée and Tony, they continued to live in New York and pursue many cultural offerings and interests.
We are all happy when we think of Mae Dee, because she strengthened and bettered our own sense of self and of others. Deva has fond memories of their getting together. Especially during a visit Deva made to New York, where they took a Grey Line tour of the City, and talked non-stop day and night throughout her entire visit.
Her light of the spirit is clear to all and remains undimmed. Her life was devoted to the good, the true, and the sense of duty to her fellow man. Life is a path between two eternities. Character survives, goodness lives, love is immortal.
She Is A Wonder And Delight, A Spirit Transcending To Eternal Light. The Spirit Of This Eternal Soul Shall Not Fade But Rather Moves Beyond Death, Itself A Fleeting Masquerade.
In celebration and with affection for a life well lived, we give thanks and know that people of goodwill remember Mae Dee always.
Dev Mitchell and Donald Mitchell / on behalf of
Members of the Ausby and Deva Mitchell family, and the families of Plez, Elmer & Mildred, and Burke McConnell
Boise Idaho / November 2009
I would first like to express my condolences to the Jackson family and I so regret that life’s circumstances would not allow me to attend today.
Mrs. Jackson has been a part of my life since I was in junior high school. She was my second Mom. She was also my home economics teacher and she introduced me to her daughter Genée because she thought that I was “a nice girl”. Genée and I have been friends forever, and even though we are separated by thousands of miles, she will always be my best friend and sister. I love her. She can call on me anytime for anything.
I spent many a day and night with Mrs. Jackson, “Buttons”, and Tony, and I don’t think I ever failed to ask about Mrs. Jackson as she endured the years with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Although her “crossing over” is painful for all who knew and loved her, I can rest with the peace of knowing that she was an important part of my life, and that the Lord will take good care of her. She had a heart of gold, and I will live with her memories for the rest of my life. My parents, who are also with the Lord, now will have a friend at their side.
God bless you and keep you Mrs. Jackson, because you are one of God’s special angels.
Debi
It is with great sorrow to hear of mom’s transition and while we will miss her dearly let us remember and honor her. When I first met mom we immediately connected with each other. Tony, Malik (who was a year at the time) and I visited mom and dad in Oklahoma for the Thanksgiving holidays.
At the time, I was estranged from my family so mom’s love and friendship was most welcomed. As you all know, Mae Dee Jackson could never sit still. She was always going. That holiday she took me “under her wing” so to speak and decided to teach me how to cook. The thing she did not know at the time was I come from a family of restauranters and had been cooking since age of 12. That day Mae Dee was so patience as she explained everything to me, including the proper nutritional value of each food.
Some of you probably remember that she had a nutritional food value chart posted on the door inside the pantry, so I got the full lesson. I became excited when mom got around to teaching me about how to prepare the dressing. That was one item I never could get just right so I paid full attention. I loved the way mom prepared her dressing, with apples and giblets and celery. That started our holiday tradition of who can make the best dressing. Every holiday after that her and dad visited us in Atlanta and she would insist on making the dressing. After a while we started making two pans of dressing. She would make one and I would make one.
A lot of friends ask me for my secret recipe for my dressing, little do they know that the secret recipe was Mae Dee’s love, inspiration and patience in teaching me how to prepare it. It was a moment that we shared over and over again for many years from teaching each of her grandsons how to swim to just enjoying their visits for the summer to why they should eat their veggies.
I will truly miss not being able to share experiences like that with her again. Mae Dee McConnell Jackson left her mark on me and I know on everyone who had the privilege of her touching their lives. She was loved by us all and we were loved by her. We will miss her but we will not forget her.
From her grandsons, Malik, Sundiata, Khalid, and their daughter-in-law, Kinsasha, we say thank you for being a part of our lives.
Love you always.
Ramona Jackson
Genée, I remember meeting you during our freshman year at Wesleyan. We became the closest of friends almost immediately. Some people thouhgt we were romantically involved, but although our friendship was one infused with love we were not boyfriend and girlfriend. We were more brother and sister, and your mother became another mother.
Mrs. Jackson (while she may have been another mother, she was always “Mrs. Jackson” to me) welcomed me into her home. She was nurturing, supportive, and encouraging. She not only had time for her children, but she was concerned for other people’s children, as if they were all hers.
I remember the Jackson home in St. Albans, Queens, Mrs. Jackson was concerned for not only her household, but for her community. She was concerned for black people generally, and for all people.
I remember her gentle way and her inner and outer beauty. You have much of your mother in you, Genée, and even as she has gradually left you, through no chilce of her own, and now left you in a way that seems final, she has remained with you. She always will. And I will keep a piece of her with me.
I pray that God will bless and keep you and your father in this time and in the years to come.
Love,
Teddy
Mae Dee was like a mother to me. She and my mother Gladys taught at JHS 216 for many years and became close friends. As a result our mothers and their only daughters became a shared mission of love. As mothers they were fiercely loyal, positive and proud. Mae Dee will always remain in my heart.
Linda