Jackson, Benjamin “Benny” F.

Jackson, Benjamin “Benny” F.

Longtime evangelist dies at 79

Benjamin “Benny” F. Jackson, a vocational evangelist from the Oxford area, died Dec. 27, 2017. He was 79.

Jackson was a native of the Friendship community of Oxford. He felt the call to preach at age 15 and served for 14 years as a pastor of Baptist churches in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. In 1974 he became a full-time evangelist, and for more than 42 years he averaged 30 crusades a year. He preached the gospel in 32 states and 20 countries, and scores of people reported making decisions to follow Christ.

Jackson served as staff evangelist for Kirby Woods Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee, before moving back to Alabama and operating Benny Jackson Evangelistic Association under the watch care of First Baptist Church, Pelham.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Ann Austin Jackson; one child; and one grandchild. (TAB)