Dorothy M. Jackson

Dorothy was born in 1931 in Corsicana, Texas, the second and only girl of 3 children, born to Ruby Carter. She spent her formative years in Freestone County, Texas as part of the family of sharecroppers. The children learned about cotton, potatoes and other small crops but mostly very hard work. Her mother supported the family as a caregiver in Dallas, Texas. Dorothy attended primary and secondary school in Mexia, Texas. She was a good student, popular and prone to speak her mind. When blessed with a child, Carolyn, she moved to Dallas with her mother when the child was 2 years old. Dorothy shared child rearing responsibilities with her mother, Ruby, while she learned cooking and housekeeping skills. She looked forward to adventures with children, young people and the church.

While still young, she migrated to California, but preferred Dallas and returned after some time. Upon returning to Dallas, she was active in the Saint Paul AME Church and assumed a group of close friends who enjoyed singing gospel music. After Carolyn graduated from high school, she became a resident of Amityville, New York and became a member of Bethyl AME Church. She continued to enjoy singing in the choir and serving the church community. When Carolyn completed undergraduate studies in Arizona, Dorothy and Carolyn moved to Maryland. Dorothy began a career in sales at the Bowie State University bookstore, as well as being a sorority mother on campus. She especially enjoyed working with and mentoring students.

When Carolyn had her first child, Jasneen, Dorothy was asked to move to Virginia to assist. That experience led to her assisting with other children, and she soon became a professional child care provider. She also had occasion to meet Pat Smith, who introduced her to Knox Presbyterian Church. While at Knox, she was able to do all the things she enjoyed: Singing, working with children and supporting the church community. During this period, Dorothy became a lead teacher at Wien Private Day School and established her career in sales of porcelain and fine china at Woodward and Lothrop, Hecht’s and Macy’s.
Dorothy was instrumental in raising her grandchildren, Jasneen and Kiran, as well as countless other youth she taught at her own business and at Wien. After her retirement, she enjoyed going to church, reading, and observing wildlife from her home in Vienna.