James William Jackson, M.D.

JACKSON, JAMES W, M.D.
of Portage, Michigan James William Jackson, M.D., age 71, passed away October 16, 2013 in Kalamazoo, MI. James was born November 26, 1941 in Gwinnett County, GA, the son of Jesse and Sleetie Doss Jackson. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy; received his BS in Chemistry from the University of Georgia; and his Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. He served his true passion of working as a general surgeon for many years; he then served as vice president of medical affairs at Candler/St. Joseph Health Systems until his retirement. He was a member of the American Board of Surgery, Fellow in American College of Surgeons, Fellow in Southeastern Surgical Congress, member of The American College of Physician Executives, member Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and served as associate professor of Medical College of Georgia. James had received the Georgia Medical Society Healthcare Heroes Award and had served as President of Medical Staff at St. Joseph Hospital, President of Medical Staff at Candler Hospital and Chief of Staff at Memorial Medical Center in Georgia. He was a member of the Sardis Primitive Baptist Church in Savannah, GA. On June 26, 1965, he was united in marriage to Sandra Cole Jackson. They were longtime residents of Georgia until 2007 when they moved to Portage, MI and became members of the Tippecanoe Primitive Baptist Church in Bourbon, IN. Surviving are his wife Sandra Jackson of Portage, MI; daughter, Lissa Marty Adams of Portage; son, James Shannon Jackson, Jr. of Grayson, GA; four grandchildren, Meredith, Cameron and Eleanor Adams and Laurelai Jackson; siblings, Lucille Strickland, Florine Pittard, Montine Bob Chapman, Velma Minor, Linda Doug Pierce; nieces and nephews. James was preceded in death by his parents and by two sisters, Betty Berry and Mildred Brodnax. The family will receive friends on Friday, October 18th from 5-8 PM at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 South 9th Street where a service to celebrate James life will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, October 19th. Interment with military honors will follow in Portage Central Cemetery. Memorials in James memory may be directed to the American Heart Association.