HARRISON “HARRY” JEROME JACKSON, JR. M.S.

Born to Harry and Jessie Jackson in Topeka, KS on Wednesday, September 22, 1948. He was confirmed Lutheran at St. John Lutheran Church of Gary, Indiana at the age of 14. Harry made his transition on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis, MO.

Harry was a 36-year veteran Journalist and Editor with many service awards as a writer at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In his life, he served as an adjunct professor of English, writing, documentary expression and history.

In addition to his journalism career, Harry had a great passion and was a highly achieved photographer of nature, landscapes, and wildlife. He also enjoyed great conversations on philosophy of pragmatic existentialism. Harry married his partner of many years, JEANETTE ARNOLD, on his birthday, Sunday, September 22, 2019. In attendance were his daughter, THERESA RENE’E HOGAN, her husband, DAVID HOGAN, his brother, WILLIAM WHITFIELD JACKSON, the church family of Greater Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, Reverend Earl Griffin and several of his dearest friends.

Harry is survived by his Families JACKSON and GILLESPIE, his dog, PENELOPE, and network of friends who also respected and loved him.

Harry wrote many things in his various crusades at the newspaper, essays, and novels. He loved his career and was reluctant to leave it; below is a piece he wrote prior to his retirement.

“I have no idea what to write that doesn’t sound like a eulogy.

I joined the Post in October of 1983. I’d been in the business as a full-time newspaper reporter since 1970, mostly as a police and public affairs reporter. I was brought here as a police reporter and as far as I recall, was the first reporter who actually asked for night police with the Tuesday through Saturday shift. At that time, I was addicted to the darkness, the alleys, the shadows and the people of the night. A lot has changed since then. I’m still not certain what actually changed.

My two proudest accomplishments were, first, alerting the St. Louis area that both sides of the river had a street gang problem. That’s when “gang” became a part of the local vocabulary and the local governments had been in a regional denial fest.

The second proudest will be important only to the hardcore, soul-invested journalists and editors: During a major election, I think in 1988, Lou Schucart, Al Stamborski and I, worked on a voters’ guide with 750 names and issues — including photos, names of propositions, etc.

No errors.

No, we didn’t get a commendation, but the accomplishment still sings with me.

While I’m leaving the daily newspaper business, I’m incapable of leaving journalism. I’ve planned two documentary narrative books, one historical investigation and a documentary film about the Underground Railroad. I’ve already started the collaborations, outlines and grant applications.

Otherwise, it’s been a great ride and a career that I’d choose again.”

Written by Harry, May 2018

​HARRISON JEROME “HARRY/JERRY” JACKSON was a hero-in-training all his life. He was a profound and fearless journalist, a photographer with an epic eye and an old soul, a devoted and doting partner, a model brother who was beloved and admired, an infatuated father, a hard-headed Kansas mule, a compelling author, his mother’s favorite, and the very picture of a great man.

Service Arrangements:

Monday October 14, 2019

2 o’clock PM

Saint Louis Cremation (St. Louis Location)

2135 Chouteau Ave

St. Louis, MO 63103

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Harry’s honor to the following charitable organizations:

Shriners Hospital for Children

www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/shc/donate

Disabled American Veterans

www.dav.org/methods-to-donate/