Jacqueline A. Jackson ’78

We lost a superstar Oct. 29, 2023, when cancer took Jackie. She was a trailblazer in every sense, leading our women’s basketball team to four Ivy titles. Jackie was the first Black woman to captain any Princeton varsity team and set scoring and rebounding records unmatched until recently. She earned those records when women’s sports were new to Princeton, players and coaches often carpooled to games, and occasionally players ironed their own numbers onto their jerseys.

Jackie was drawn to Princeton by her brother Jim ’74’s experience and encouragement. She earned a degree in history with a concentration in African American studies. Later, she earned an MBA at Loyola while working at AT&T. Leaving there, she spent 26 years in missionary service, then returned to Florida and built a new community at Apple. She kept serving, particularly those dealing with homelessness and recovery.

While working all over the developing world as a Christian missionary, Jackie’s approach was to come quietly into a community, meet with pastors and other leaders, then ask what they needed and how her group might help. She brought creativity, humor, organization, and a passion for building relationships into each engagement.

We join all who loved and admired Jackie in grieving a life well-lived and over too soon.