Rebecca Jackson

Ms. Rebecca Jackson departed this earthy life on Friday, April 7, 2023 at the age of 87.

Rebecca was born in Abbeville, Alabama in 1935 to the late Susie (Hudspeth) and the late Jim Carter.

Rebecca accepted Christ at an early age and as an adult, she was an active member of North Highland Missionary Baptist Church. As a devoted steward, she participated in the Missionary Society, the Nurses Guild and sang in the choir. She was an active member of Abbeville’s Eta Rho Chapter of Alpha Pi Chi National Sorority, Inc. Rebecca so looked forward to the comradery among members and the community activities they performed. 

Rebecca enjoyed watching March Madness basketball, and for years loved to go bowling with Geneva Cull-Pickett as part of their bowling league. Her private joke was that striking her bowling pins relieved her stress after dealing with challenging situations/individuals at work all day. Following her annual cruise trips with her bestie Ida Ruth, Rebecca would remain elated for weeks. Throughout the years and without hesitation she took into her home family members and friends. Rebecca’s generosity had no end. She was a cherished daughter, wife, mother and friend.

Rebecca spent 45 years in service as a Cardiac Care Nurse (RN). She began her professional career in Elmsford, NY but spent the majority of time at Dothan’s Medical Center. Many of her former patients and co-workers can attest to the fact that she was an exceptional nurse and caregiver. On one occasion, the bedside notes she recorded while monitoring a patient in ICU were so astute and inciteful that the Cardiac Surgeon used the notes to teach his medical student. She would often visit her patients at their homes, at no charge, if they requested help with administering medications. Rebecca was well known and respected in the medical community by patients, nurses, doctors and administrators.

Rebecca was a very humble person, and once remarked that she never did anything great or important. Actually, she was directly instrumental in desegregating many outdated customs followed at the Medical Center.  In the early 1960’s, it was still the practice to take the discharged patients to separate locations based on their race. But not Rebecca. She escorted ALL her discharged patients via the front entrance. This caused quite a rumbling throughout the hospital. When the Administrators could not make her stop, suddenly it became the ”standard procedure” that all discharged patients shall leave via the front entrance. During those same years, Rebecca subtly called attention to the fact that the white nurses were referred to as Miss or Mrs. Surname, but the non-white nurses were always only called by their first name. Rebecca learned the First names of her co-workers and deliberately referred to them that way, which once again caused an uproar. And, once again it suddenly became “standard procedure” that all nurses shall be referred to by their surnames.  Rebecca’s actions were brave, great and important.

After a brief illness, she peacefully transitioned from this earth while at home and surrounded by her family. Preceding her in death was husband Brady Jackson; her sisters: Mary Eva Blythers, Alice Griffin and Jinny Kincey; brothers: WC Carter, LT Carter, JC Carter and AC Carter.

Rebecca is survived and celebrated by her daughter: Civalyn Jackson; a loving and devoted niece: Robin Sowell (adopted daughter); a special grand-nephew: Rodney “Santiago” Sowell (adopted grandson); her BFF since childhood: Ida Ruth Danzy; a host of special nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Then He said to the woman “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7:50)

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