Kenneth L. Jackson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Kenneth Leon Jackson was born March 9, 1940 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to parents Sherman Jackson, Sr. and Josephine Fenner Jackson. Kenneth departed this life on June 12th at St. Joseph's Hospital. Kenneth was a graduate of Royal Street High School (Salutatorian, 1956), Jackson State University (B.S., 1960) and Rivier College (MBA, 1980). He was a life-long member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He proudly served in the United States Air Force as a programmer at Strategic Air Command during the Vietnam War. In 2007, he retired from Lockheed Martin. “When it’s time to retire, you’ll know.” He described retirement as “every week being six Saturdays and one Sunday.” Anyone who knew Ken also knew he always kept people laughing with his jokes. He also had a beautiful singing voice (both baritone and every now and then tenor). He was loving and he was kind. He would find earthworms displaced by rain and put them back in the grass. He wouldn’t kill spiders in the house because he knew their value in catching insects. He would help his employees find work when he laid them off. He worked tirelessly in the background to support causes he believed in. He worked in voter registration drives to help black people vote during the Civil Rights Era. He often donated to many causes, both local and national, such as the Baldwinsville Volunteer Fire Department, Friends of Rosamond Gifford Zoo, The Humane Society of the USA, and the United Negro College Fund. His interests included reading political thrillers, listening to jazz and blues, and watching westerns on Saturday morning. He loved walking and jogging. He would often carry a big stick for any dogs, which he affectionately labeled as a “canine cracker” or “pooch persuader” though he never struck any animals. He bowled in leagues for many years, always taking two bowling balls to the alley each week and on Saturdays to practice. Both of Kenneth’s parents preceded in death as did his brother Joseph and sister-in-law Sarah. He is survived by his wife of 59 years and college sweetheart, Edwina Jean of Fayetteville, NY; his only child, Jeffrey (Legenetta), of Syracuse, NY; brothers Sherman Jr. (Mary) of Jackson, MS and Langston (Billye) of Houston, TX; two grandchildren: Jaheem of Philadelphia and Wan’Que of Syracuse; and one great granddaughter, Logan of Syracuse along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, fraternity brothers, and friends.

Kenneth L. Jackson

March 9, 1940 - June 12, 2022