Services for J. Don Jackson Sr., M.D., 92, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lone Star Baptist Church in Oakwood. The Rev. Larry Raven will deliver the eulogy and the Rev. Troy W. Simmons will officiate. Burial will follow in Lone Star Cemetery under the direction of McCoy Funeral Home.

Dr. Jackson Sr. departed this life on June 26, 2012 in his home surrounded by his family.

He served the Palestine community for 42 years as a family physician, surgeon and trained urologist. His legacy survives him as a caring, thoughtful, patient man and skilled doctor for many. His patients benefited from his care and commitment to healing their wounds and ailments whenever possible.

Dr. Jackson Sr. was born on the west bend of the Trinity River/Freestone County on Dec. 16, 1919. He was the second son of four children born to Sherman and Sarah Solomon Jackson. The first son died in infancy.

He joined Lone Star Baptist Church at the age of 9. He was a lifelong member participating in Sunday school, choir, quartets and Bible training for young people and adults. He developed an abiding faith in his Creator that sustained him throughout his life.

Growing up in the Lone Star community, he completed all grades offered and ranked as the top student in all classes.

He finished Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas in 1939 as valedictorian. He subsequently entered Mary Allen Junior College in Crockett and graduated in 1941. He then spent his third year of college study at Wiley College in Marshall. In 1941, he was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army. After training at various camps, he was sent to Europe where he spent over a year in Florence, Italy. It was there, while attending science classes, his instructor encouraged him to study medicine. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and received a B.S. degree from Wiley College in 1947. That September, he enrolled in Howard University Medical School in Washington, D.C. and earned his M.D. degree in 1951.

He trained in urology and allied branches of medicine at Homer G. Phillips Hospital, a 750-bed facility in St. Louis, Mo. After completing residence, Dr. Jackson came home and decided to live and work in Palestine.

He lived and worked one half block from Lincoln School on McClellan Street, treating patients for 10 years. In March 1963, his new office opened at 402 Fort St. He remained in the practice of medicine until 1998, culminating 42 years of familiar service in the area.

During those years, he hospitalized his patients at Dr. H.D. Patton’s clinic on Fulton Street and the G.L. Prince Hospital in Crockett.

On Dec. 16, 1960, he received an invitation to join the staff of Memorial Hospital in Palestine where he served as chief of staff for various terms.

He was active in civic and community activities including Boy Scouts, the local Cancer Society, civic music association, The Associated Charities, Sheltered Workshop and March of Dimes.

Dr. Jackson Sr. served two terms on the Palestine Independent School District Board of Trustees, the Craft Board and he was a strong support of the UT Tyler School of Nursing in Palestine. One of his many honors included being named “Builder of Palestine” by the Palestine Chamber of Commerce in 1978. He was the 10th recipient.

Though the gift of life is celebrated, his homegoing is mourned by his wife of 61 years, Rose Darden Jackson; son, James Don Jackson Jr. and wife, Hannas; granddaughters, Tyesha and Jamesha; grandson, George H. Rhodes and wife, Jaree; great-granddaughters, Ariah and Aaliyah; one sister, Ernie Lee Sheppard; and many cousins and friends.

A viewing will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

A final viewing will take place at the beginning of the service on Saturday.