Rev. Jesse Jackson's memorial service is currently taking place at The House of Hope in Chicago. The civil rights activist passed away on February 17 at the age of 84 after battling Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare neurological disorder.
His children shared the news on Instagram, writing, 'Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world.'
Jesse Jackson was married to Jacqueline Lavinia Brown Jackson, his wife of 63 years. The couple met at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical College in the early 1960s and married in December 1962.
Jesse and Jacqueline Jackson had five children, including Santita Jackson, a television host, singer, and YouTube creator; Jesse Jackson Jr., a former U.S. Representative from Illinois; Jonathan Luther Jackson, a current U.S. Congressman; Yusef DuBois Jackson, chief operating officer of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition; and Jacqueline 'Jackie' Lavinia Jackson, who holds advanced degrees.
Jesse Jackson also fathered Ashley Laverne Jackson with Karin Stanford, director of the Washington bureau of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Ashley has pursued a career as a writer, actress, and producer.
The civil rights leader's grandchildren include Skye Jackson, Cassius, Jessica Donatella Jackson, and Jesse Louis Jackson III.
