James Lidell Jackson, Sr.

On Saturday morning at approximately 10:30 am my best friend's Father ( James L. Jackson) died. I was very honored to share the moment with her family. I have always felt as a member of their family.

James was a very humble man and I greatly loved and respected him. I had known him for more than half my life. I can remember as a kid him always teasing me about driving my Ford. He has a great love for the Lord, his wife Laverne Alexander Jackson ( who died on March 11, 2001), and children Jimmy, Donna, and Jennifer. His grandchildren brought him great joy as well.

I am including the obituary here for all to see.

James (JJ) rest in peace.. We love you..

Mr. James Lidell Jackson, Sr., age 68, better known as “J.J.” of Cartersville, GA and formerly of Cedartown passed away Saturday, June 14, 2008 following his battle with cancer since 2001.

He was born on November 3, 1939 in Polk County, GA a son of Martin (Bally) Jackson and Mattie Childers Jackson. J.J. ran a sign shop in Cedartown for 20 years and was always involved in community affairs, giving many benefit singings for the sick and needy. He and his late wife Laverne sang with the Akins Family for 12 years along with other singing groups. When he married his present wife, Fae, in 2001 they sang with the Morris Stancil Singers of Cumming, GA. They later went on to sing by themselves.

He had many trades in his lifetime such as body & paint shops, service stations, working on small engines, tinkering with race cars and just plain being a good Christian man, helping whomever he could, a great neighbor, a good friend and he loved everyone.

He was preceded in death by his father, Martin (Bally) Jackson, his wife of 43 years, Laverne Alexander Jackson, two brothers: Baaron and Wayne Jackson, Sr. and a grandson Jason Jackson.

He leaves behind his wife, Mrs. Fae (Dodd-Morgan) Jackson, Cartersville to whom he was married on June 8, 2001; mother, Mrs. Mattie Jackson, Aragon; son, James Lidell (Jimmy) Jackson, Jr. and his wife Martha of Jonesboro; daughters: Donna Crawford and husband C.J. of Rockmart, Jennifer Reddish and husband Roscoe, Rockmart, and Cindy Roberson, Rome; step-daughter, Kay Stokes and husband Eddie, Taylorsville; step-son, Mike Dodd and wife Marlene, Acworth; brothers: Ed Jackson and wife Patricia, Aragon, Gary Jackson and wife, Lynn, Aragon, Charles Jackson, Griffin, GA; sister, Glenda Cannon and husband, Freddie, Lilburn, GA; sisters in law: Mary Jackson and Diane Jackson, Rockmart, Barbara Kendall and Mrs. Charles Alexander, Meansville, GA and brother in law, Rudolph Chamblee, Griffin, GA; grandchildren: Jaeme and Jonathen Crawford, Jacob and Jasper Reddish ,Brooke Ridings, Justin Fulgham, Chris and Jordy Roberson; three step grandchildren: Kaylee Stokes, Matt and Miranda Dodd.
Funeral services will be held Monday, June 16th at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the Alvis Miller & Son Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Pyles, Rev. Steve Willis and Rev. Joel Alexander officiating. Interment will follow in the Yarbrough Family Cemetery with Rev. Jerry Branton officiating.
Pallbearers will include: Wayne Jackson, Jr., Jimmy Jackson, Frankie Prater, Marty Jackson, Jessie Jackson and Jeff Jackson. Honorary pallbearers will include: Judson Childers, Tom Kerns, Carl Etheridge, Sammy Jackson and James Van Meter.

The family will receive friends Sunday at the Alvis Miller & Son Funeral Home after 2:00 p.m. .
The Alvis Miller & Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

In Memory of Three Lives lost a Year ago Today!

Today we honor the life of Shannon Vautier Weaver who gave his life for our Freedom.

The following was read at his funeral by Capt. Matthew Johnson Company Commander of Alpha Company. Shannon's grandparents wanted me to share it with everyone.

Today we gather to honor the lives of not one but three American Heroes killed in Action on May 21st, 2007--Staff Sergeant Shannon Weaver, Sergeant Brian Ardron, and Corporal Michael Davis. On that evening, just as the Baghhad sun disappeared, 1st Platoon was conducting a route clearance mission in order to maintain mobility for their brother Cavalry, a task they had completed many times before. Riding in the safest vehicle - the Buffalo, SSG Weaver, SGT ARDron, CPL Davis, SPC Tauriainen, and PFC Brookshire stopped to interrogate a canal crossing for explosives or command wire. Just as Shannon came over the radio, a cowardly insurgent detonated a deep buried improvised explosive devise directly underneath their vehicle, resulting in the heartbreaking loss of three phenomenal Sappers, and wounding two others, one of who is still fighting for his life and the other paralyzed.

Staff Sergeant Weaver was no stranger to armed Conflict. He deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Again answered his call to duty, and for the last seven months has served as a squad leader and primary operator of the Buffalo Mine Protected Clearance Vehicle, one of the most important tools in our inventory to find and locate roadside bombs. Shannon's niche was maintenance. He could fix anything, sometimes given absolutely nothing to fix it with. He took all the platoon's vehicles under his arms, and kept their equipment running smoothly since he received it in late October. As a commander, I relied on Shannon for his insight, guidance and advice on how to complete our complex mission. I am personally indebted to him for what he gave to the company. Physically, mentally, and spiritually strong, Shanon's true strength was in the Lord. Before every single patrol he led the platoon in prayer - a testament of his genuine devotion to God. A certain phrase from his prayer always comes to mind when I think of Shannon, "Lord protect those who are going, protect those who are staying, and protect those who are already out there."

True warriors, our fallen comrades would have wanted us to continue our combat mission, no matter what the circumstances, for they are true combat engineers -- they are Sappers.

Staff Sergeant Shannon Vautier Weaver, Sergeant Brian Daniel Ardron, and Corporal Michael Warner Davis have SP'd the eternal line of departure, and they continue to clear a route for the rest of us Sappers to someplace safer and more peaceful. I am proud to have served with such remarkable men. You will forever be in out thoughts and prayers.

Please click on the following link to see a video of SSGT Shannon Weaver......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjBNS8UOoSU