Otey Stovall Jackson, Jr.

Otey Stovall Jackson, Jr was born June 12, 1925 the youngest of five children to Otey Stovall Jackson, Sr and Lora Pagan Jackson. Born in the Salem community, Otey lived his whole life in Macon and dearly loved Noxubee County and her people. Otey attended Salem Elementary School and graduated from Macon High School 1943.
Claiming to be old enough, he joined the Navy during World War II and served in the South Pacific theatre. Otey was awarded two Battle Star Citations during his service, and later received the UDC Cross of Military Service. Otey returned to Noxubee County after the war and graduated in 1947 with a degree in accounting from Bowling Green University in Bowling Green, KY.

He began his career as a bookkeeper for Mitchell Engineering Company in Columbus, MS, and later worked for Mr. Lester M. Adams at his Standard Oil service station in Macon. Otey purchased the service station, and it became Jackson Service Station. Beginning in the early 1960s, Edna and Otey bought the Standard Oil Agency from Mr. Clanton Thomas servicing Noxubee and Kemper Counties. Years later they expanded the business becoming Chevron Oil Agency and adding Lowndes, Clay and Oktibbeha Counties eventually building O. S. Jackson, Inc. a Chevron Oil Jobber where Otey served as President. They retired from business in 1986.
During his life, Otey served his community in many ways and in many capacities. As a longtime member of the First Baptist Church he served on numerous committees. Otey sponsored the Oilers Little League Baseball team for many years. He was a past President of the Macon Rotary Club and past President of the Noxubee Chamber of Commerce. He was a Shriner in Hamasa Temple of Meridian, Secretary of the Founding Board of Central Academy, and past President and Treasurer of the Zach Brooks Golf Course. Otey was King of the Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball 1980 and a Grand Marshall of the Macon Christmas Parade. He was a member and past Master of the Macon Lodge Number 40. He was a member and past High Priest of the William H. Carter Chapter, Macon and a past Junior and Senior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of the State of Mississippi, and past Worthy Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Macon. Otey received the 62 year pin for continuous membership in the Mississippi Lodge. He also was a member of the Noxubee County Board of Directors Citizens National Bank.

An avid Mississippi State baseball fan, he was a member of the Bulldog Club, the Dugout Club and a long time season ticket holder for MSU baseball. As members of the Mississippi State President’s Club, The Otey and Edna Jackson Scholarship was established awarding two endowed merit scholarships for engineering studies since 1986.
On November 6, 1957 Otey married Edna Byrd Phillips who survives him. They have two daughters Susan Shepherd (Dr. Joe) and Judy Spohn (Dr. Micheal), four granddaughters Caroline Holcomb (Luke), Sarah Spohn, Lauren Spohn and Jennifer Golden (Ken) and one great grandson, James Golden.

Visitation will be Saturday, March 4, 2017 from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church Macon, with the service beginning at 11. Burial will follow with military honors and Masonic rites at Salem Methodist Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Palmer Home for Children, P.O. Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703. Cockrell Funeral Home is in charge of services.