Jacksons spend lives helping others

By Sabrina Bates

News Producer

Some people begin charting their course for their futures in high school. Others begin that process upon graduation and dive right into undergraduate studies at a college. Then there are others who see their path and take a couple of side routes that eventually lead them to their destination. Such as the story that describes Martin’s Jason Jackson launch into the realms of justice.

At only 36 years old, Jackson is the fifth generation of his family to grow up “on the same piece of dirt.” He was born and raised in Martin. He and his wife Stephanie reside on the land he called him throughout his childhood.

A 2001 graduate of Westview High School, Jackson took a path that followed in his father’s footsteps as he sought out a higher education in pursuit of social work. His father spent his lifetime counseling children, many of whom had been victims of some form of abuse. His mother also worked with children as a science schoolteacher in Gleason. She was known to send students to international science fairs through her tenure as an educator.

Growing up in a “wonderful family of four,” Jackson joked the only complaint he had about his family was when they wanted to watch Jeopardy! as a family. He said the gathering would make him feel less intelligent than everyone else. As the sole remaining member of the foursome, Jackson’s disposition is reflective of a bit of sorrow, and combination of humility and gratefulness.

He lost his 25-year-old brother Jay in a car accident. His dad passed at the age of 68 from a stroke and his mom died at age 60 from cancer.

“I was raised by good, kind, loving people. I try to live my life getting enjoyment out of each day. I enjoy helping people and my family did too,” Jackson said.

In 2007, he graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin and sought to move forward in the field of social work by seeking a Master’s from Union University. It wasn’t until he took a personality test during one of his classes that he realized he was going into the wrong profession. Jackson remembered an attorney recommended he take the LSAT. That determination launched him into the legal realm and he was accepted into a Nashville-based law school in 2012.

“I remember thinking that I wasn’t giving enough to the field of social work and I wasn’t giving enough in classes. I learned after that personality test that the field of social work just wasn’t for me,” Jackson said.

The year he began law school was also the year he married Stephanie, who serves as a counselor through Here’s Hope. She also works with drug court participants for the 27th Judicial District.

“She was so patient with me. I spent my honeymoon at a drive-in movie studying for exams,” Jackson said. His wife drove him to school in Nashville two to three times a week. His mom was in a hospital in Nashville while Jackson attended school. He said he would walk across the campus to the hospital in between classes to spend time with his mother, who was battling ovarian cancer.

The journey saw Jackson and his wife take on many miles, and many hours.

It took his four years attending school part time and pushing cars around in the parking lot of Boyd’s Auto in Martin before Jackson graduated law school — completely debt free and maintaining a grade point average of 3.5-3.75.

His goal was to start a private practice in criminal law. He spent many days in Obion County General Sessions Court at the launch of his official career. Jackson had an internship with Kate Moore-Bynum, who was an assistant attorney general. After working with the side of prosecution, Jackson ended up representing many of whom had been accused of a crime.

“I learned a lot in school. But what I learned in school was very different when you appear in front of the man in the long dress,” Jackson noted. In some cases, the public defender is already appointed to handle a case. Other times, it was up to the judge to appoint an attorney through the court system. Obion County General Sessions Judge Jimmy Smith took a leap of faith on Jackson’s fresh education and fresh face.

“He (Smith) kept me very busy and I can’t thank him enough. I had no funds to advertise and an office outside of town. I had to build clients in the courtroom and the jail. Judge Smith gave me the opportunity I needed, but I had to prove I could do my job,” Jackson said.

While it isn’t uncommon to see Jackson in local courtrooms, he is also a familiar face among senior centers as he helps promote free legal services for West Tennessee Legal Services. The entity works with senior citizens and indigent people in West Tennessee as they need legal counsel.

Jackson also has a sense of pride from being a multi-property owner in Martin — his hometown that he said he has never wanted to leave. He purchased a building in historic downtown Martin that now houses First State Bank Insurance. As part of the family farm, Jackson also owns the building that houses the popular free-standing takeout restaurant Coco’s of Martin. The business is owned by Dresden-native Corrie Bradberry, who also offers customers in Medina the same Southern-cooked, to-go meals.

“Corrie offers a wonderful service for people in this area. I appreciate that I can have a small part in what she is doing by having her on our family farm,” Jackson said, adding he and his wife take advantage of her meals on the go.

Although his future seemed charted early in his pursuit of higher education, Jackson has proven life can take a slight detour and put someone on his best path at any stage.

“I have never envisioned where I am now in life,” Jackson said.