BELOIT - Ruby West Jackson, 85, of Beloit passed away on Friday, September 12, 2014 at her home. Mrs. Jackson was born on February 5, 1929 in Milledgeville, Georgia, the daughter of Alonzo West and Camilla Sanford West. She was the first in her family to graduate from high school, attend college and receive a Masters degree. She attended Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana for a short time but returned to Georgia to care for her mother. Later in life, she received her Bachelors degree from Dominican College and a Masters degree in Educational Psychology from the College of Racine. On September 1,1951 she married Lloyd I. Jackson and together they continued to create a legacy for their family. They settled in Newport, Rhode Island then relocated to Racine, Wisconsin in 1961. She and her husband retired in 1985 and relocated to her hometown of Milledgeville, Georgia and then to Madison, WI because they could no longer be away from the grand babies. Mrs. Jackson is the great-granddaughter of slaves. She worked as an educator for fifty years, beginning in a one-room schoolhouse in Georgia. In addition, Mrs. Jackson has worked as an instructor, lecturer, community activist, interior decorator, political consultant and lobbyist (WEAC), private business owner, historical consultant, costumed interpreter of pioneer African American women in Wisconsin, playwright, director, producer and author. Education, political activism and the preservation of African American history were of paramount importance to Mrs. Jackson. To that end her numerous accomplishments included: African American History Coordinator for the Wisconsin Historical Society, Director/Founder of the Sallie Ellis Davis Foundation, GA, Coordinator for the first Reading is Fundamental event in Wisconsin, Coordinator for the first Earth Day celebration in Wisconsin, Founder of the Wisconsin African American Heritage Preservation, Inc., first principal of the African American Academy, Madison, WI, Delegate to the National Democratic Convention (1976,1980). She was featured on C-Span, National Public Radio and PBS for her various contributions to the preservation of African American heritage in Wisconsin. Mrs. Jackson was the recipient of the National Parks Service-Network to Freedom Award. She also received a Commendation from former Governor Tommy Thompson for her part in realizing the development of the Pleasant Ridge African American Exhibit at Old World Wisconsin, commemorating Wisconsin’s Sesquicentennial and making significant contributions to preserving Wisconsin’s richly diverse heritage and culture. Because of their involvement with the Racine Democratic Party, Mrs. Jackson and her husband, Lloyd were invited to and attended the Inauguration of President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Walter Mondale in January of 1977. They were subsequently invited to dinner at the White House in July of 1977 where they enjoyed the company of former President Carter and other noted dignitaries. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson and family also had the privilege of attending the March on Washington in 1963 and the twenty-fifth anniversary in 1988. The pinnacle of Mrs. Jackson’s accomplishments was brought to fruition when she co-authored the book Finding Freedom: The Untold Story of Joshua Glover, Runaway Slave with Walter T. McDonald. The book was published by the Wisconsin Historical Society in 2007. Mrs. Jackson is survived by her daughters, Jacquelyn Jackson of Beloit, WI and Faith Jackson of Palm Springs, CA; granddaughters, Christa Johnson and Jessica Johnson; long-time friend and partner, Dr. Walter T. McDonald of Racine, WI sister-in law, Rosa Mae West, very special first cousin, Faye Pugh and numerous nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd I. Jackson, parents, Alonzo and Camilla Sanford West; brothers, Alonzo, Jr., Eunice and Joseph. A gathering to celebrate Mrs. Jackson’s life will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2014 at Noon at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, WI. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Reading is Fundamental (rif.org) Please share your memories at www.CressFuneralService.com Cress Funeral and Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road, Madison (608) 238-3434