Jackson, Thomas Roland

In Memory of Brother Thomas Roland Jackson
September 13, 1922 - February 5, 1999

Thomas Roland Jackson was born on September 13, 1922. His father, Nathan Leroy Jackson, was a Master Mason and member of Kenly Lodge No. 257 for more than 60 years. His oldest son is a current member and Past Master of Kenly Lodge. Brother Roland Jackson was initiated on March 11, 1949, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on May 20, 1949, and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on September 12, 1949. All of his degrees were done by lEckory Lodge No. 343 in Hickory, North Carolina as a courtesy to Kenly Lodge No. 257 while Brother Jackson was employed in Hickory as professional baseball player with the Hickory Rebels, a farm team for the New York Giants. Brother Jackson maintained continuous membership in Kenly Lodge until his death on February 5, 1999, less than seven months short of his fifty-year anniversary. He served as Master of Kenly Lodge in 1957 and in 1992. He has served Kenly Lodge as one of its of ricers for many years. He served as the Grand Lodge of North Carolina as the District Education Chairman in 1972 and 1973.

Brother Jackson has served in several of the appendant bodies of masonry. He was a thirty-year member of the Selma Chapter No. 209 of the Order of the Eastern Star. He served as worthy Patron of the Selma Chapter for ten different years. He was District Deputy Grand Patron of the Eastern Star in 1975. Brother Jackson was a member of the York Rite Bodies in Goldsboro, a member of the Shrine, and a member of the Johnston County Shrine Club. He was also a member of the Goldsboro Chapter of the Allied Masonic Degrees, a research and social organization for masons.

Brother Jackson graduated from Kenly High School in 1941 where he played basketball and baseball. He made the All-County Team in each sport several years. He served in the US Army during World War II with the Army of Occupation in Germany. He was employed as a Lab Technician and shift supervisor for E. I. DuPont Manufacturing in Kinston. He retired in 1981. Within the community, Brother Jackson has served the Kenly Presbyterian Church as a Deacon, an Elder, Clerk of the Session, and Sunday School teacher. He was a member of the Committee of Ministry for the Orange Presbytery. He was member of the Kenly Post of the American Legion and has held several of floes within this organization. He also helped to organize and served on the Kenly Cemetery Care Committee.

Submitted By Thomas R. Jackson, Jr. and Theramae B. Jackson