Rev. Tommie Jackson

Rev. Dr. Tommie Jackson January 18, 1954- July 26, 2023 Dr. Tommie Jackson was born in Baltimore, Maryland from the union of the late Thomas and Lerline Jackson. He was the third of six children born from their union, and their first son. Dr. Jackson was raised in Baltimore City and was a product of the Baltimore Public School System. During his early school years, Dr. Jackson had teachers and mentors that believed in Black Excellence and instilled in him the value of education. Dr. Jackson graduated from Baltimore City College High School and went on to attend the prestigious Morehouse University in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Jackson completed his first two years of his undergraduate education at Morehouse, and subsequently transferred to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. There he would complete his undergraduate degree, and meet his soon to be wife, and life partner, Dorye Michelle Emory. Tommie Jackson and Dorye Michelle Emory were married in June 1977. Shortly after they married, the Jacksons moved to Houston, Texas where Dr. Jackson attended Texas Southern University in pursuit of his Juris Doctor. The Jacksons would later return to Baltimore, Maryland where Dr. Jackson completed law school at the University of Maryland Law School. Dr. Jackson was adamant about social justice, equity and inclusion. While in Maryland, Dr. Jackson worked for the City Government in various capacities serving as an advocate and change agent for the people. In November 1981, Tommie and Dorye Jackson welcomed their first child to the world, a daughter, Erin Marie. In January 1986, Tommie and Dorye welcomed their second child to the world, a daughter, Evinn Leigh. Dr. Jackson’s daughters would become two of his proudest accomplishments. While Dr. Jackson was passionate about social justice, his passion for the Lord was always primary. He knew he was called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1987 Dr. Jackson answered the call to ministry. He continued with the theme of Black Excellence, and was mentored in ministry under the guidance of the late Dr. Harold A. Carter Sr. Under Dr. Carter’s mentorship, Dr. Jackson learned some of his core values of pastoring and leading God’s chosen ones. Dr. Jackson answered his first call to Pastorship in 1990, at Calvary Baptist Church in Chester, Pennsylvania. While at Calvary, Dr. Jackson touched the lives of the congregation he served and the community. He continued his involvement in politics while there and stood in the gap whenever he could for those in need, following God’s word and making lifelong friendships along the way. Dr. Jackson’s tenacity for God’s work and his willingness to follow God’s leadership brought him to Stamford, Connecticut in 1997, where he answered his second calling to Pastorship at Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. For 20 years, Dr. Jackson served as the Pastor of Faith Tabernacle. During his tenure at Faith, Dr. Jackson spearheaded numerous projects for the expansion of God’s kingdom including adding the addition of a chapel, classrooms, and a library. Dr. Jackson continued to serve the Stamford community while at Faith Tabernacle with a weekly food bank in an effort to reduce hunger in the community and held annual “back to school” drives for children and families to be equipped with supplies to support educational pursuits. Dr. Jackson was a proponent of education and took the time on a quarterly basis to honor students in the congregation and in the community for academic excellence. Dr. Jackson served as a spiritual advisor and mentor for the congregation and for the community. He held a mid-week “Hour of Power Service” that was open to the community. Dr. Jackson’s vision for this space was to bridge the gap for people to not have to wait for Sunday to commune with the Lord. While pastoring at Faith, Dr. Jackson continued the spirit of Black Excellence, earning his second doctorate in Theology from New York Theological Seminary. Not only was he a proponent for education, he also enjoyed teaching, and upon completing his doctorate degree at New York Theological Seminary, he went on to become part of the faculty, leading, guiding and mentoring upcoming solders for the army of the Lord. In addition to his service at Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church and at New York Theological Seminary, he was involved in politics at the local and state level, developing a comradery with many high elected officials, and at times, advising, assisting and campaigning for candidates whose messages he believed would serve and better the community he loved. Dr. Jackson most recently worked for the City of Stamford as the Assistant Director of Urban Redevelopment Commission. Here he continued to serve as an advocate, leader and mentor. In 2017, Dr. Jackson Founded the Rehoboth Fellowship Church. Dr. Jackson was diligent in fostering this ministry and desired Rehoboth to be a place God made for everyone. He absolutely loved his Rehoboth family and was always thinking of ways to expand the ministry to bring more people to Christ. Dr. Jackson had an insurmountable amount of respect and appreciation for the leadership at Rehoboth and its members, referencing his “team of warriors” on a daily basis. Dr. Jackson was a major figure in the lives of many. He was a husband, a father, a grandfather (Buddy), a pastor, an advocate, an educator, a mentor, a friend and lived for his calling as a servant of the Lord. Dr. Jackson’s legacies in ministry, in politics, in social justice, in friendship and family are ones that will never be forgotten. This amazing man of God leaves to cherish and celebrate his life and legacy his wife of 46 years, Dorye Emory Jackson, his two daughters, Erin Marie Jackson and Evinn Leigh Jackson-Townes, two granddaughters, his “Dream Girls,” Norah Grace Townes, and Emory Donette Jackson, three sisters, Cynthia Jackson, Paulette Jackson, and Veronica Jackson, a niece, Kristin Goode (Mckenzie Goode, Madison Goode, and Mason Goode), Sister in Law Mia Whittington Johnson, nephew Dorian Whittington-Forbes and a host of friends, colleagues and partners and ministry that he viewed as family. A memorial service will be held on Friday August 4th, 2023 at Union Baptist Church, 805 Newfield Ave., Stamford, CT. Visitation 10:00AM - 12:00PM followed by a service of celebration at 12:00PM. Interment will be private.

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Rev. Tommie Jackson

January 18, 1954 - July 26, 2023