Martha Lucile Jackson

Martha Lucile Jackson A loving, funny, strong, adventurous, beautiful, and imaginative spirit left this life on August 21 in Oxford, MS. Martha Lucile (Grantham) Jackson, widow of A. Knox Jackson, died in the Baptist Hospital in Oxford, age 83, lovingly attended by her family, the Baptist Hospital Hospice staff, and the gentle ladies of Home Instead. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford. Visitation with the family will precede the service at the church Fellowship Hall. The family requests donations to the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford, The Oxford Pantry, Friends of the Oxford Lafayette Library, or a charity of choice in lieu of flowers. Martha Lu (Lulu) was born on her grandparents farm in middle Tennessee near Centerville, and spent her early years in Martin, TN and Columbus, MS. She primarily grew up in Tupelo, MS; a 1949 graduate of Tupelo High School. Always a loyal friend, Lulu kept up her Tupelo friendships over a long life of living away from Mississippi, and acquiring new lifelong friends in all the many places she lived and where she traveled. She attended the University of Mississippi where she met and married Knox Jackson. Knox and Lulu soon had two daughters and embarked on many years of frequent moves for his career. Lulu always found a way to make each move an adventure for her family, an opportunity to learn about and explore each exciting new place, and make new friends. After many corporate moves, they happily returned south, living in Clarksdale, MS, then Memphis and Pickwick Lake, and after retirement to Oxford, MS in 1991. She spent the next 22 years deeply enjoying Oxford, her grandchildren (Kirk, Mary, and Jack) and most recently her great-granddaughter and namesake Lucy (teaching them to sing with joy); the Ole Miss Rebels, and her friends and family of First Presbyterian Church. She sang in the church choir, did community volunteer work, attended classes, football games, and other events at Ole Miss, traveled extensively, enjoyed the music of Toby Keith, and deeply enjoyed the excitement of being a extra in a number of movies that were filmed in Oxford. Her quick wit, charm, and innate optimism made her a person people just wanted to be around. Martha Lu knew how to enjoy her life, wherever it was and in whatever circumstances, to the fullest extent possible. This appreciation of the joyous potential in life was reflected in her high school yearbook where she claimed a life intent to "find fun in everything we meet - the greatest, the worst, and the best." Lulu was a natural entertainer - beginning with the tales she spun for her younger brother and sister (and later her children, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren), participating in school musical groups, and singing in her church choirs most of her life. She was also an enthusiastic member of the Sweet Adelines barbershop organization for many years - singing a strong lead in two performing quartets - The Memphiann's (in Memphis) and the Laurelaires (in Wilton, CT). Martha Lu leaves a family and many friends sad to lose her joyful lively spirit, endless curiosity, and zest for life; but grateful for having her in their lives. They are glad to have been able to enjoy her enthusiasm, wisdom, loyalty, and kindness for as long as they did and will alway cherish good memories of her graceful, wise, and funny examples of how to relish life and deal gracefully and courageously with life's challenges. Immediate surviving family include two daughters - Judy Daniel of Asheville, NC and Knoxanne Bolton (Larry) of Thompson's Station, TN; a sister, Mary Jane (Robert) Sargent of Brevard, NC and brother, Kirk (Cheryl) Grantham of West Palm Beach, FL; three grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter; and many fond nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband Knox, sister Emily Ann Mathews (Nashville), and parents H.Kirk Grantham and Lucile Grantham (Tupelo). Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall at Coleman Funeral Home website.

Martha Lucile Jackson

August 21, 2014

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