Mrs. Alice (Gregory) Jackson, 96, of Charlotte, North Carolina (formerly of Taylortown, North Carolina) entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at Novant Health Presbyterian, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Alice Dolly Gregory Jackson was born on December 23, 1927 in Summerville, South Carolina to James and Mary Gregory. She was born into a family of thirteen brothers and sisters, but due to tragedies most of her siblings died at an early age. Only seven of the thirteen children made it to adulthood and Alice was the youngest girl and next to last sibling in the family.

Early in her life, Alice accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her mother knew that she had a special purpose because when Alice was a baby, she contracted pneumonia. The doctors, at that time, didn’t know what to do for her and every time they would tell her mother to get her “box” ready. But God had another plan for Alice and so the Lord healed her as a baby and sent her forth into the world to impact her family and the people that she would come in contact with.

Alice started taking piano lessons by the age of 8. She learned the piano so quickly that she started playing hymns for local churches by the age of nine. Her music teacher, Mrs. Aiken was so impressed with how quickly she was learning to play at such a young age that she did not want to charge her for her music lessons. Alice started playing for local singing groups, men’s choirs and other different groups around the age of 9 or 10. Even though the family did not have a car at the time the community would provide a ride for her to any of her piano engagements (but she would walk to church and to her piano lessons most of the time). She began playing at the First Baptist Church of Summerville around the age of 14.

Alice attended Alston High School and graduated in 1945. Her high school activities included singing in the Glee Club (Choir), drama club and she played high school basketball.

Alston High, at that time, did not have a gymnasium so all the basketball games were played outdoors, even in inclement weather. During Alice’s childhood the kids did not stay in the house very much.

They spent a lot of time outside creating their own games. They used old tires and chains to make swings. They used aluminum cans and wire strings to create fake stilts. They also created tree houses out of tree limbs and pine straw. They were very creative in making their own toys.

Alice was an excellent student and graduated as the valedictorian of her class. She was allowed to play the music for the final senior class gathering which was unusual for that time. During the graduation ceremony a priest was present during Alice’s valedictorian speech and was so impressed that he offered her a full scholarship to Xavier University. Alice declined the offer to Xavier because it was too far away from home.

After graduating from high school at the age of 16, Alice decided to attend Allen University located in Columbia, South Carolina. In college Alice majored in Elementary Education and minored in Music.

At Allen, Alice worked in the kitchen in the basement of the university’s cafeteria as her work-study assignment. One day the President and the Bishop of the University heard Alice playing in the kitchen basement on an old upright piano and told her supervisor, “don’t let her wash another dish.” He was so impressed with her pianist skills, he decided to award her a full music scholarship to the University.

The President asked Alice to assemble eight young ladies to sing and he would take them with him to sing at the military base in Charleston, South Carolina on regular occasions. Alice and the group traveled all over SC with the President. Alice sang in a musical group called the Album of Faith singers and the University Choir. The music teacher of the University Choir assigned Alice to play for the choir early in her college career. The teacher taught her how to play all the songs that the choir sang. She even memorized some of the songs. Alice graduated from Allen University in 1949.

When Alice graduated from the University, she did not have a job right away however, the President of Allen University recommended her to a teaching and music position in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Alice took the position in Pinehurst and this began her career in education and music which would span for over 30 years of faithful service.

Alice taught at Leonard Training School for 7 years and devoted 35 years of teaching kindergarten and third grade at Pinehurst Elementary School. She taught private piano lessons in her home for over 30 years to young and old alike.

Alice met Ernest Jackson in Pinehurst on a blind date who would eventually become her husband. Ernest and Alice married in 1953 and from this union had 5-five children. The couple settled and remained in Pinehurst and the Moore County community.

Alice was a very active person in the Moore County community. She played the piano for funerals, weddings, graduations, school programs, church programs and various other musical functions throughout Moore County.

She served as secretary of the local branch of the NAACP for many years and was a member of the Moore County Choral Society.

Alice was a faithful member of Galilee Baptist Church in the Taylor town community and would play for all the choirs, teach them songs each week and play for the church services for over 60 years. Alice was once recognized as the “Citizen of the Week” in August 1985 in the “Fayetteville Black Times” newspaper. In 2012, Galilee Baptist Church gave her an appreciation program to celebrate her service to the church. Alice also served as the organist for First Baptist Church in Southern Pines, NC for 30 years. Back then, churches had service on alternating Sundays. So, Alice would play at First Baptist on 1st and 3rd Sundays and at Galilee Baptist on 2nd and 4th Sundays. Alice was also a part of the Pee Dee Association of Baptist Churches, often taking the youth to Bible Quiz bowls and directing the Pee Dee Association Choirs.

Alice retired from the Moore County School system with over 30 years of service.

Alice was living in Charlotte, North Carolina with her daughters Belinda and Karen and was an active member of Greater Mt Moriah Primitive Church where she played for the Sunday School and the opening hymn in church services.

During her free time in Charlotte early on, Alice attended the Derita Senior Program at Ebenezer Baptist Church and was known to play a mean hand of “Kings in the Corner” card game. After returning to Charlotte after a brief stay in Greensboro with her daughters, Alice returned back to Charlotte and was warmly cared for by a group of loving, kind and supportive caregivers. After some time, Alice was welcomed to the Gracious Living Adult Day and Health Care Center where she enjoyed playing the piano during devotion time, making art creations and playing card games.

Mrs. Alice G. Jackson departed this life at 5 am on October 29, 2024 in the Harris Hospice Unit at Novant Presbyterian Medical Center Uptown. The doctors and nurses at Novant Presbyterian Medical Center did an excellent job in caring for Alice and making sure to keep the family abreast at all times. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest H. Jackson, her grandson, Jermaine Monroe, her Gregory siblings, Evelyn Knight, Ethel Brown, James Gregory, Jr. and Thomas Gregory, special cousin, Dorothy “Darby” Nelson, Mother in law, Ruth McCall Jackson, brothers in law, James Jackson and Cleophas “Teet” Jackson.

She leaves to cherish her memories her 5 (five) children: Debora Jackson Spencer, Myron Jackson, Reginald Jackson (Teresa), Karen Jackson Jones (Kenneth) and Belinda Jackson, 14 (fourteen) grandchildren, 16 (sixteen) great grandchildren, 8 (eight) great-great grandchildren, Evelyn Blackwell Ray (sister-in-law), Theora Borden (sisterin-law), Frances Johnson (sister-in-law) and a host of nieces and nephews and loved ones.

Please keep the family and friends of Mrs. Alice (Gregory) Jackson in your thoughts and prayers. 

Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Southern Pines, North Carolina.