The Crystal River City Council on Monday night recognized George Ann Jackson, a lifelong local resident, as part of its Black History Month presentation. Mayor Joe Meek invited Jackson to the front of the chamber, growing emotional as he read her story. He thanked Councilwoman Gabrielle Satchell for organizing the tribute.
Jackson was born in 1951 in Crystal River to Dorothy Lee Copeland and educated in Citrus County schools. Before integration, she attended George Washington Carver Elementary, which served grades one through eight, and later Booker T. Washington High School. In 1965, during the historic integration of Citrus County schools, students were given the choice to remain in Crystal River or attend school in Inverness. Jackson was part of the class of 1965, the first class in the county to successfully complete integration without incident and the first graduating class at Crystal River High School at its present location, now Crystal River Middle School.
After high school and college, Jackson worked 25 years for the Citrus County School Board at Crystal River High School. She later owned and operated a funeral home in Crystal River, providing services to families throughout the community. What was intended to be a brief retirement turned into another chapter of community service.
Originally reported by Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
Sources: Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
