FAMU Unveils Eddie & Jerrlyne Jackson Wall of Honor at Lawson Center

Florida A&M University (FAMU) Interim President Timothy L. Beard, Ph.D., joined senior administration officials, members of the 220 Quarterback Club and other supporters for the unveiling of a plaque honoring Eddie and Jerrlyne Jackson.

Beard said Jackson “shared his gifts with all of us, as well as other communicators who journeyed along his path.”

“Eddie Jackson was a staunch advocate for Florida A&M University, and so was his bride, Jerrlyne Jackson, Ph.D., who stood beside him and created the ultimate FAMU family with daughter Allesa Jackson English, PharmD, M.D.,” Beard told the Friday, August 9 gathering. “Together, they helped build and position the FAMU brand while educating students to live their best lives. Together they carefully crafted opportunities for “life to get better.”

The Eddie and Jerrlyne Jackson Wall of Honor is made up of three metal black and gray plaques on the east wall of the mezzanine level of the Al Lawson Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium. It includes biographies of the two alumni and avid FAMU supporters.

 

James Matthews, a member of the workgroup that formulated the idea and raised funds for the project, said the plaque reflects the Jacksons’ contribution to FAMU.

“It gives me great satisfaction to see a project like this completed. A project like that means so much to the community, and it means so much to the Jackson family,” Matthews said. “It’s about the community. I talked about giving to FAMU. That was one of Eddie’s main things. He launched the $1 million campaign that was designed to make FAMU better. That’s what he lived for – to make FAMU better.” 

A FAMU alum, Jackson worked in various roles at FAMU, including sports information director under the legendary Coach Alonzo “Jake” Gaither. He was the University’s chief spokesman under then FAMU President Frederick S. Humphries, Jr., Ph.D.  Among his other roles at FAMU, Jackson was an assistant director of Veteran Affairs, director of Career Counseling and Placement, and director of Public Relations, before retiring in 2002 as vice president for University Relations.

He was founder and president of the 220 Quarterback Club, an organization he established in 2009 to financially support football and other programs. In the past decade, the 220 Quarterback Club has donated more than $200,000 to various athletic programs and the Marching “100” Band.

A prolific writer, Jackson published opinion columns in the Tallahassee Democrat and elsewhere.  In 2009, he published, “Coaching Against the Wind: The National Championship Seasons of the Florida A&M University Rattlers,” a 252-page book on the National Championship Seasons of the Florida A&M University Rattlers featuring football Coaches William Bell, Gaither, Rudy Hubbard, and William “Billy” Joe.  

Jackson was a 2008 inductee into the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame. At the time of his death on June 3, he was 86 and had been married to Jerrlyne Allen Jackson, Ph.D., for nearly 55 years.

A Sopchoppy, Florida native, Jerrlyne Jackson received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from FAMU and her doctorate from Florida State University. One month after receiving her bachelor’s degree in 1963, she was hired as a secretary at FAMU.  After five years and completion of her master’s degree, she was asked to teach in the FAMU Business Education Department. 

For the next 35 years, she served two different tenures as department chairwoman; was selected twice as “Teacher of the Year;” organized and advised student organizations taking students to district, state, and national competitions; wrote and received a $200,000 grant from IBM; became the first African American to be elected president of the Florida Business Education Association; served on the team to develop and validate the Florida Business Education Subject Area Test for Teacher Certification; and was selected Outstanding Post-Secondary Business Educator in Florida.  She retired in 2003 as Professor Emerita after 40 years of service at FAMU.

She is a life member of the FAMU National Alumni Association, member of the Leon County FAMU Alumni Association, and subscribing life member for the FAMU Rattler Boosters, Inc. Jackson assisted in the establishment of the 220 Quarterback Club and provided administrative and organizational support for the Wednesday meetings.

Jackson is involved in many community projects, so it was hard for organizers to keep the true nature of the tribute secret from her.

“I had no idea that this would turn out to be such an adventure,” Jackson said as she struggled to contain her emotions. She thanked Matthews and the team as well as former FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “Awesome, that’s the only word I can say. I had no idea that I was going to be included in this project. I thought it was all about Eddie. I am so happy that I was included for the little part that I have played.”