The welcomed hint of a breeze blew across the sprawling Victorian porch making the August afternoon in beautiful Evergreen tolerable for visiting and reminiscing.
Lamar Jackson, the beloved Alabama pastor who retired from Birmingham’s Southside Baptist Church in 1980, sat contentedly in his green rocking chair, looking every part the country squire, as he revisited his past.
Having just celebrated his 85th birthday on Sept. 11, the Baptist leader, whose flock of white, wavy hair accentuates his distinguished appearance, didn’t hesitate on dates, names and places as he shared personal and professional anecdotes from his life over the years.
Jackson’s love of history — especially Baptist history — is apparent as he recalled specific names and gave synopses of Baptist leaders of Alabama from years gone by.
Baptist historian
“I don’t think you can fully understand anything unless you understand what went on before and what came later,” the Baptist scholar said in regard to his love of history.
As Jackson boasted about the Baptist heritage of his adopted hometown of Evergreen, he shared that Alexander Travis (uncle of William B. Travis of Alamo fame) came to Evergreen from South Carolina in 1800. “Travis organized several Baptist churches in the area including Evergreen Baptist and the now defunct Beulah Baptist Church,” he explained.
Warming to his impromptu history lesson, Jackson elaborated in his melodious southern drawl, “Yes, Travis was a great man, so great that when First Baptist Church in Montgomery had a big brouhaha over something, they sent down here for Travis to come moderate the discussions.”
When discussing his own origins, Jackson diplomatically states that he considers the entire state of Alabama his home.
“I was born in Birmingham but grew up in Mobile and Tuscaloosa,” he said.
Jackson, whose father also served as a Baptist pastor for 50 years, was ordained at First Baptist Church, Grove Hill, during his father’s tenure there.
His father, J.B. Jackson also served as pastor of Mobile’s Springhill Baptist Church during Jackson’s youth.
Jackson said although his father was his mentor, “he did not overtly influence my decision to go to seminary.”
Of his decision to enter the ministry Jackson recalled, “It had been simmering all through high school and college. I had taken a lot of philosophy courses at the University of Alabama with a double major in history and English. I was very active at Calvary Baptist Church and I even led the music there for two years.
“My senior year I found myself under conviction, knowing that I needed to decide what to do with my life,” he said. “I decided to go to Southern Seminary in Louisville and one thing led to another and I accepted that the Lord wanted me to be a pastor.”
In addition to his 23 years of service at Southside Baptist, Jackson also was pastor of First Baptist Church, Ensley, for nine years. Before being called to Ensley, he had served in two other churches, one in Indiana and the other in North Carolina.
A love for people
In speaking of his long tenure as a Southern Baptist preacher Jackson said, “The Lord has blessed me greatly. I’ve served in only four churches and they had wonderful people in them. I never had any ‘huffing’ in my churches,” he said with a smile.
Perhaps one of the reasons for the lack of dissent during Jackson’s years as a pastor was due in part to his genuine love of people. “I just love people. I get along well with them,” he said.
When asked what inspired him during his ministerial career he said two things: “prayerful laymen and the New Testament.”
“I had some great laymen in my churches,” he said, mentioning Frank Samford, an entrepeneur businessman for whom Samford University was named.
“Frank Samford would call me if he couldn’t be at church on Sunday and tell me, ‘Pastor, I want you to know where I am and let you know I’ll be praying for you on Sunday.’
“To have important and successful businessmen love their church so much and to think that much of their young pastor — now that stirs you,” he said with emotion in his voice.
Jackson also exhibits pride in his family.
Married for 40 years to Hermione Dannelly of Montgomery, they had four children — Mary Ellen, Betty, James and Sarah.
Hermione Dannelly Jackson was active in the Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union, serving a term as president. Two of the Jackson children have carried on the family tradition of pursuing Baptist vocations. Mary Ellen (Dickson) works for the Woman’s Missionary Union Foundation, and Sarah (Shelton) was just named pastor of Birmingham’s Baptist Church of the Covenant.
Daughter preaches
Of his youngest daughter’s decision to be a third-generation Baptist minister, Jackson said, “Sarah is a great preacher. She can ‘ring the bell.’ She definitely has had the Lord lay His hand on her to preach.”
In 1980 the Jacksons retired to Hermione’s family home in Evergreen.
Two years later, at the age of 63, his beloved partner died of a heart attack, and Jackson found himself in an unfamiliar role — widower. “Hermione was a great lady,” he said.
Twelve years later, while attending a party, Jackson reacquainted himself with Carolyn Boatner who had lost her husband six years earlier. “We started courting, fell in love and decided to get married. She’s a wonderful woman,” he affectionately said of his wife. “We’ve had a great 10 years together.”
Up until a few years ago, the feisty pastor still accepted guest preaching invitations.
However, for the past year he has stayed close to home due to cancer. “I haven’t been to church in more than a year and I really miss getting to preach and attending worship service,” he said. “That’s what I miss the most.”
Jackson said his pastor, Evergreen Baptist’s Ken May, drops by on occasion. “He comes by to make sure I’m behaving myself,” he said with a mischievous smile.
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