Alto Loftin Jackson

Alto Loftin Jackson, Sr. age 97, a life-long resident of Clio, Alabama died Saturday, July 16, 2011. He was the oldest child of William Alto Jackson and Lula Jane Loftin Jackson.

Jackson graduated from Barbour County High School in 1931, the College of Commerce at the University of Alabama in 1935, and University of Alabama School of Law in May 1937.

In 1994, he received honorary membership into Omicron Delta Kappa at the University of Alabama.

March 28, 1941, he married Emma Pearl Norton, Louisville, Alabama, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Olon Norton, Sr.

He practiced law in Clayton and Clio until he volunteered for the U.S. Army where he remained in the Judge Advocate Division until 1945.

Jackson was deeply involved in his professional practice and in his business, farming, and numerous commitments. He was a long-time member and chairman of the Barbour County Board of Education, member of the Clio First United Methodist Church, and a teacher for the adult Sunday School class for many years.

In 1967, he associated with Troy University as a teacher.

He served as Deputy Director, Troy University at Fort Rucker and as Chairman of the Business faculty at the same institution.

The award of Associate Professor Emeritus was conferred upon Jackson at Commencement of Troy University/Dothan, December 13, 2004.

Jackson was a capable, prolific writer. He authored So Mourns the Dove in 1965, Clio, Alabama; a History in 1980, A Chronicle of My Remembering in 1997, and Reflections in 2002, as well as numerous publications of historical and genealogical nature. He was one of the founders of the Amariah B. Stubbs, Sr. Historical Association. The A.B. Stubbs, Sr. Manuscript Collection at the Dale County Library, Ozark, Alabama, creates a perpetual resource of historical nature.

Jackson was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Jane Grace Jackson Pelfrey, and his brother, Samuel W. Jackson, Sr. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Emma Pearl Norton Jackson; two daughters, Caroline Jane Jackson, Arlington, Virginia; Pearl Norton Jackson Strawbridge and her husband, Ronald H. Strawbridge, Sr., Vernon, Alabama; two sons, Dr. Alto Loftin Jackson, Jr. and his wife, Tricia A. Jackson, Montgomery, Alabama; Robert Olon Jackson and his wife, Brittany H. Jackson, Birmingham, Alabama; six grandchildren, Caroline Jackson Strawbridge, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Ronald H. Strawbridge, Jr. and his wife, Audrey Oswalt Strawbridge, Fayette, Alabama; Barrett Beatrice Jackson and Jillian Loftin Jackson of Durham, North Carolina and Washington, D.C.; Julia Elizabeth Jackson and Thomas Christopher Jackson of Houston and Dallas, Texas; two great-grandsons, Langston Howard Strawbridge and Hollis Loftin Strawbridge, Fayette, Alabama; cousins, nieces, and nephews.

The family is grateful for the loving care of caregivers Patricia Sapp, Patricia McLeod and Otha White, all of Clio.

Visitation will be Wednesday, July 20 at Keahey Funeral Home, Highway 10 South, Clio, Alabama, between the hours of5:00 and 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be at Clio United Methodist Church, Highway 10 South, Thursday, July 21 at 3 p.m. The body will lie in state at the church an hour prior to the funeral service. The service will be conducted by Rev. Thad Chesser, Mobile, Alabama, and Rev. William Bernard Easterling, Clio, Alabama. Interment will be at Pea River Cemetery, Highway 51 North, following the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the University of Alabama for the Alto Loftin Jackson, Sr. Endowed Scholarship Fund, University of Alabama Advancement Services, P. O. Box 870122, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487 or to the Clio United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 67, Clio, Alabama 36017.

Active pallbearers will be Samuel W. Jackson, Jr., David A. Jackson, Sr., Jackson L. Pelfrey, Jerome Richardson, George E. Little, Jr., Ronald H. Strawbridge, Jr., Michael J. French and Jansen Richardson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Edward Philbeck, Alex A. Brock, James Morton, Tommie Abercrombie, Yamandu Acosta, Larry Baker, Bill Baker, Robert B. Jackson, B.F. Jackson, III, Steve F. Jackson, Randy T. Jackson, Dr. Dennis M. Jackson, David A. Jackson, Jr., Rev. James H. Strength, Rev. Donald Phillips, Rev. Fred McCain, Pastor Randy Adams.

Keahey Funeral Home (334)397-4242, is in charge of arrangements. You may sign our guestbook for this family at www.keaheyfuneralhome.com