Donald Edwin Jackson, Sr.

Donald Jackson, 89, of Covington, GA began his eternal walk with our Lord, at home surrounded by his loving family, on November 17,

2025. He was born June 9, 1936, in Clinton, SC, the son of Curtis and Inez (Kirby) Jackson.

Don graduated from Laurens High School, Class of 1954, where he excelled in athletics (football, baseball, and track), music, and was voted the wittiest and most talented in his class. He played center on the football team, third baseman on the baseball team, and was a two-time state champ in the half mile and once in the mile on the track team. Don attended Clemson University after high school but dropped out after two years to join the US Navy. He was the Honor graduate of his basic training class and served four years in the US Pacific Fleet aboard the USS Pickaway, with over three years of continuous sea duty in the Western Pacific. Don returned to Clemson after an honorable discharge where he graduated in 1962 with a degree in Industrial Management. While at Clemson, he earned letters in track and field and was a member of the Block C Club.

Don married the love his life, Mary Cunningham, in August 1962. They recently celebrated 63 years of marriage together. Don and Mary initially settled in Clemson, SC where he began work in the textile industry for the Milliken Company. He subsequently relocated his family to Conyers, GA, in 1972, where he took a job with Bibb Manufacturing in Porterdale, GA, serving in numerous roles of increasing responsibility until his retirement in 2003. Don was both a proud Master Mason and Shriner with over 50 years of service. He was an Elder Emeritus in the Conyers Presbyterian Church where he and Mary have attended faithfully for over 53 years. Don was active in his community after retirement, serving others through Meals on Wheels and Reading Buddies in the local school district.

In addition to his parents, Don is predeceased by a brother, Richard (Dickie) Jackson. Surviving in addition to his wife Mary (Cunningham) Jackson, is son Donald E (Eddie) Jackson, Jr and his wife Lynne of Fernandina Beach, FL, daughter Mary Kathryn Twardos, and her husband Mike of Covington, GA, and David Ross Jackson and his wife Yuko of Tokyo, Japan; four grandchildren, Amanda Abadie, Natalie MacDonald, Jonny Jackson, and Sydney Twardos, and one great grandson Nathan Abadie; sister Gloria Satterwhite and her husband Wayne, of Newberry, SC; two brothers Jimmy Miller and his wife Diane of Simpsonville, SC and Scott Jackson and his wife Candy of New Orleans, LA; many nieces and nephews.

A service of remembrance will be held November 29, 11:00 A.M., at the Conyers Presbyterian Church, 911 N Main St NW Conyers, GA. Inurnment will be at East View Cemetery, Conyers, GA at 12:30 P.M. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember Don in a special way are encouraged to make gifts in his memory to the Thornwell Orphanage-Clinton SC, https://thornwell.org/. Arrangements are being made by Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, 1215 Access Road, Covington, GA.