‘I do things from my heart’
“I have always been the type of person that liked to do things to help people out. I was born into a big family, five boys and five girls, and we helped each other out,” said Rachel Beatty Jackson.
Jackson was a Chronicle Human Relations Award winner. “I was truly amazed and honored to win the award. I do things from my heart, so I don’t expect anything in return, but this is nice.”
Jackson said when she moved to Winston-Salem in 1968, the Twin City was very active with the Civil Rights Movement. “I decided I was going to get involved. I wasn’t expecting it, but I ended up as one of the co-founders for Concerned Women for Justice, which was a prison ministry, for 30 years. We still go down to a women’s prison in Raleigh for Christmas. I was also co-founder and volunteered on the Human Relations Commission. I did that for two years, and I really enjoyed it.”
Jackson is now retired, “But I still like to support it, and do what I can to help them today.”
Jackson said she was involved in the early stages of The North Carolina Black Repertory Company. “I’ve been a member since 1979. I was the house manager. I was also a part of The National Black Theater Festival as the lead usher and house manager in charge of recruiting all of the ushers. It was a wonderful experiece; I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy that.”
She’s also a part of St. Andrews Group. “A group of farmers invite us out to come out … and get healthy food to share with the community.”
Jackson was formerly employed by St. Phillips Child Development, Experiment in Self Reliance, Northwest Child Development and the Forsyth County Public Library for 23 years. She currently volunteers for the local Meals on Wheels, which she has been affiliated with for over 20 years. Jackson is an elder and property manager at Lloyd Presbyterian Church. She is a mother of six and grandmother of 12.
