Irvin Lee Jackson
MEMPHIS - Irvin Lee Jackson, 91 of Memphis, TN died peacefully at his home on August 27, 2022.
Irvin was preceded in death by his mother, Aara J. Campbell; a son, Norvell A. Jackson; and a grandson Billy M. Webb.
Irvin’s memory will forever be cherished by his wife of 63 years, Opal Tucker Jackson; daughter, Gina Barnes (Billy); son, Wendell Jackson (Adrena); six grandchildren; Brandi Jackson-webb, Norvell A. Jackson Jr., Irvin Lee Jackson II, Julian Seiferth, Alexandria Christian and Indya Jackson; three great-grandchildren; Nya Webb and Jaryn Webb; Irvin Lee Jackson III; god-sister Elizabeth Hughes; god-daughter; Devon Irby and a host of family and friends.
Mr. Irvin Jackson was the first black entrepreneur to own the neighborhood grocery store in The Elliston Heights, Bunker Hills and Castalia Communities called Jackson’s Grocery at 1940 Warren St. The store was a beacon of light to the community for over 45 years.
Mr. Jackson served as a leader, mentor, father-figure, neighbor and role model not only to his home but to the entire community. His excellent customer service and devotion to many patrons from all walks of life throughout the City of Memphis.
Jackson’s Grocery became an iconic spot for enjoying his daily delicious hot and cold meals. One of his most stated mantras was “Hurry Back to see your Uncle Jack”.
Upon retirement his impeccable service and friendship was truly missed. The Jackson family still enjoys many community memories shared to this day.
The family will receive friends for a time of visitation at N.J. Ford & Sons Funeral Home, 12 South Parkway W, Memphis, TN on Sunday, September 4, 2022 from 1-4.
There will be a procession through the Elliston Heights community to West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, Wednesday, September 7, 2022 between 8:45 and 9:15.
(January 27, 1941 – August 25, 2022)
Frank Lee Watson, Jr. was born on January 27, 1941 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Julia Randell Watson and
Frank Lee Watson, Sr. His mother, a schoolteacher, was one of the first women to graduate from the
University of Oklahoma, having done so at the young age of 18. His father was a wildcatter oil man, taking his family throughout the Midwest on his explorations. An only child, Frank Jr knew what it was to be the odd man out and that befriending others was a life essential. One Summer his family moved to the then oil town of Minot, North Dakota where most of its inhabitants were Native Americans, including the boys who played on his little league baseball team. He quickly became friends with a Chippewa boy named “Yellow Bird,” who threw a wicked fastball.
Frank went to the University of Arkansas on the GI bill, where he met and married the University’s standout student and Kappa Kappa Gamma president, Nona Glenn Proctor from Little Rock, Arkansas. He later transferred to Tulane University and then attended Tulane Law School, graduating with honors.
He first went to work back in Little Rock for local trial legend Sam Laser of the Laser Law firm, trying variety of cases throughout Arkansas’ small towns. Later he moved into transactional work with the Rose Law firm, after which he formed a law partnership with William Neal Carter, a lawyer who would later pull strings to get the Rolling Stones visas for their re-admission into the United States, becoming their main lawyer and consigliere for years to come. There, Frank Jr met and represented Fredrick Smith in an effort to base Federal Express in Little Rock. When Little Rock Aero refused Federal Express landing rights, Frank Jr., with only one client to his name, threw caution to the wind, packed his bags, and moved his family to Memphis, becoming a partner with Robert “Bobby” Cox and others at the Waring Cox law firm, which successfully secured the necessary landing rights in Memphis and took Federal Express public.
Frank later moved to the Baker Donelson law firm, continuing to represent Memphis’ finest and brightest businessmen such as Willard Sparks, Jim Vining, Brad Martin and Gary Shorb. He was a true client’s lawyer: what was best for the client was always paramount without exception, and if the law was against the client, then the law was “wrong.”
Frank retired in 2019 but continued to seek out new business ventures and opportunities like a bloodhound. In his later years, he invested in and helped guide BR Distilling, Inc, Memphis’ producer of “Blue Note Whiskey™” and other brown water labels, along with his close and trusted friends, Rob Delpriore and Steve Tanzer.
He was an avid mountain hiker, a love he first learned from attorney Lucius Burch with whom he spent many backpacking adventures. He also loved to snow ski, though his style made the on- looker feel that he would crash at any moment - yet he managed to stay afloat. He was a very accomplished fly fisherman as well as shotgun shooter, a sport he enjoyed most with his youngest son, Robert, traveling to numerous states for shooting competitions.
Frank’s uniqueness lay in the many eclectic interests he had beyond business and the law: he was a field trail dog trainer, a Mississippi cattle farmer, a commodities trader, a mountain biker, an owner of cutting horses, a part owner of the Memphis Rogues’ soccer team, a dove hunter, an occasional sailor of the seas, a voracious reader, and, above all, a raconteur of the first order. He smiled a lot. His zest for adventure was unparalleled. He was scheduled to fly fish Slough Creek in Yellowstone National Park with a group of friends and family. He was planning a mountain bike ride at one of his favorite places, Overton Park, with his son Frank III just an hour before he died.
He adored his grandchildren. He told everyone about his grandson, Will, reading Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations and took great pride in the fact that Will asked him questions about the book. He loved his granddaughter Julia’s art and spoke with pride of her leaving Memphis to attend college in New York.
Later in life, Frank met Virginia “Ginger” Acuff and fell in love. Their love and companionship grew beyond measure and lasted until the end.
Frank leaves behind: Ginger; his daughter, Elizabeth Nona Watson; his two sons, Frank L. Watson, III and Robert L. Watson; his daughter-in-law, Jennifer Welborn Watson; his grandchildren, Julia L. Watson and William Frank Watson; “Treat,” his all-time favorite black Labrador; a few loose, unchewed cigars; a couple of ex-wives; and one teary-eyed bar tender.
Visitation will occur on September 1, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Canale Funeral Home, 2700 Union Ave Extended, Memphis, TN 38112
Memorial Service will occur at 10:00 a.m. on September 2, 2022 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 3863 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN 38122, Father Ben presiding
Celebration of Life/blowout will begin at 5:00 p.m. on September 3, 2022 at Jennifer and Frank Watson, III’S home located at 49 E Parkway N, Memphis, TN 38104.