Having survived pancreatic cancer long enough to watch all three grandsons attend the colleges of their dreams, James Arnold Jackson passed away peacefully on August 13, 2023, at his home surrounded by his family. He was almost 88 years of age. In the immortal words and song by Dan Fogelberg, James has always been the family’s “Leader of the Band.” He will be so very missed but left us with enough fabulous memories to last several lifetimes.

James was born on September 3, 1935, in Longview, Texas. James lost his Dad Elmer, a foreman on oil rigs, when he was 5 years old. He was then doted on by his beloved sisters May, Lessie, Ruth and Dorothy (later joined by Carol and Quentella) while his Mom Jimmie worked two and three jobs at a time to keep the family together.

In 1952, the Greenwood family moved next door to the Jacksons in Waco and James met his future wife of 65 years, Mary Elizabeth. When he received a band scholarship to Stephen F. Austin, James hitchhiked to and from Waco every weekend to see the love of his life. James and Mary married in 1958 and shortly after, James began attending Texas A&M University. Mary did too at a time when only professor’s daughters and students’ wives were allowed to attend classes. Their son James Greenwood was born in 1961 and daughter Jennifer Gray was born in 1963. Pictures abound of James studying while holding two little kids. In addition to keeping busy as a student and father of two, James also worked his way through college on a surveying team with the Texas Highway Department.

James graduated from Texas A&M University in 1966, with a BBA in accounting. (Both his son and daughter and now grandson Ryan followed him to Texas A&M; he’s also not too disappointed with grandson Davis, a senior at Rice University, and grandson Adam, a sophomore at Tulane University). After graduation, James moved the family to Midland to work as an auditor for Elcor Chemical. Soon thereafter, James was awarded his Certificate of Public Accountancy and was quite elated (and relieved) at passing it all on the first attempt.

After his father-in-law Clifford Greenwood passed away in 1970, James became the family’s patriarch, taking under his wing his mother-in-law, the late Mildred “Ninny” Greenwood, sister-in-law Mikie Taylor, brother-in-law and best friend Bill Taylor, sister-in-law Patti Hinze, and treasured brother-in-law, the late Les Hinze.

James moved his family to Dallas in 1970 and they have all lived there ever since. James was his son’s Scout Master, baseball and basketball team coach, and attended every band concert, track meet, drill team performance, choir performance, and everything in-between for his kids. Family vacations have for the most part been spent camping with as many family members as possible joining in the fun. A few family ski trips to favorite locations in New Mexico and Colorado were thrown into the vacation mix after James learned to ski in his 40’s.

In Dallas, James was the Chief Financial Officer of Medical City Dallas, a Trammell Crow-owned partnership. Later, he worked for Prudential Investments, finally retiring for the first time in 2007. In 2008, his daughter Jennifer asked him if he would leave retirement to become the CFO at her fledgling law firm. As with every request ever from a family member, he readily agreed to help her.

James became known as Papa when his cherished nieces and nephews were born: Erick Michael Moore, Lesley Michelle Taylor, Jamie Elizabeth Taylor and Kyle Moore.

After waiting impatiently for many years, James finally got his kids married off in 2000 (James) and 2002 (Jenny). After voicing his approval for her good genes of height, beauty and great hair, not to mention her sweet nature, Jen Jackson became his beloved daughter-in-law in 2000. Jen and James had Davis Landen in 2001 and Ryan Austin in 2003. Jenny and son-in-law Dr. Damon Spencer had Adam Gray in 2002.

Papa was off and running in one of his favorite roles of life – Papa to the three grandsons. There quickly ensued endless games of hide and seek, rides to and from school in the big truck, Mimi & Papa Summer Camp, and RV camping trips galore! Mimi and Papa made it to virtually all of their grandsons’ T-ball and baseball games, Adam’s CCGD choir concerts, Davis & Ryan’s robotics competitions, every Grandparent’s Day at their schools and pretty much every other event in the boys’ lives. In recent years, Papa has loved watching the boys find their passions – Davis in electrical engineering, Adam in business and law, and Ryan in mechanical engineering. Another dream came true when Papa finally got a princess in Jorja Elizabeth, born to his niece Jamie in 2012. For many years, Papa could usually be spotted with a grandson, niece or nephew up on his shoulders.

James’ impressive intellect, accounting skills and sharp wit were a site to behold. James could be a tad stubborn – ok, maybe more than a tad – but he was also extremely generous to all, including the homeless, anyone standing on the side of the highway with car trouble and every family member who ever needed a hand, some advice, a laugh or anything mechanical repaired. (His daughter, in particular, took full advantage of the fact her Dad could fix anything and everything that ever broke.)

After never previously being sick a day in his life, Papa, in the past 5 years, has fought through pancreatic cancer, several rounds of chemo, radiation, two very difficult surgeries, a brain tumor and a triple heart bypass. He deserves to rest up in heaven and watch over his beloved wife, kids, and grandsons. By now, he has no doubt found his family members who preceded him to heaven – his mother and father, mother-in-law and father in-law, sisters May, Lessie, and Ruth, brother-in-law Les, and nephew Erick.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to support the amazing work in the treatment of pancreatic cancer being done by Dr. John Mansour and the other remarkable doctors, surgeons and nurses at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. If you would like to do so, the link is https://engage.utsouthwestern.edu and the form will give you the option to designate “other” and write in pancreatic cancer research or Dr. John Mansour or the option of your choice. If you would like to send flowers, we recommend Michelle’s House of Flowers in West, Texas.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday August 17, 2023 and 10 a.m. at Moore Cemetery in Chalk Bluff, Texas. Pallbearers: Bill Taylor, James Jackson, Kyle Moore, Davis Jackson, Adam Spencer, and Ryan Jackson. Family and friends will then celebrate the life well-lived of James “Papa” Jackson at the home of Patti Hinze.

Place of Service: Moore Cemetery , 5071 FM 933; Waco, TX 76705