The History of Tennessee and Reba Matthews Jackson of St. Helena Parish

Reba Jackson 

Tennessee Jackson was born in April 1908 in Darlington, Louisiana. According to the 1920 United States Federal Census, Tennessee  lived in the household of his uncle Wesley Jackson and his aunt Francis. 

Tennessee attended Black Creek school, and Reba attended Crossroads schools. Although they didn't finish high school, they received an education that life taught them. One thing for sure they could count money. They made a good profit from their crops. Their thirteen children  worked on the farm with their parents farming, planting, and harvesting. They grew all kinds of vegetables and sold them on the market. The owners a two hundred plus acre farm and horses and mules. They also raised cattle for their meat and sold some.  

The family smokehouse was used to cook and sell the meat. Tennessee made homemade syrup for sell, and he gave some to the helpers on his farm. People in the community knew Tennessee and Reba as "Tennee" and "Rebbie." They both had a strong voice in their community and were pillars in  their community. The Jackson was independent farmers in Greensburg, Louisiana and help other farmers when they need a helping hand. All the farmers would help each other back in those days and barter with each other. Tennessee was well known for being the first farmer with the largest bales of cotton during the cotton season. In his senior years, he worked as a custodian at St. Helena elementary school. He also worked in the FHA office assisting others in the community with getting loans and grants to buy their own homes.  Some of his sons worked with their uncles, neighbors, and their grandfather and learned how to lay bricks, build houses and chimneys. Their daughters became homemakers and hairdresser. The youngest of their children left Greensburg, and started a new life as an entrepreneur in California. 

They were the parents of Charles, Jerry, Evelyn, Louise, Leola, Tennessee, Jr., Dorothy, Gloria, Ernest, Matthew, Leary, Lemard, and Emmitt Jackson. The family worshipped at Darlington Church of God in Christ. He served as a deacon and Reba served as a church mother. Some of their children served on the usher board and Sunday school staff. They were baptized in the Darlington River. Many of their deceased loved ones are buried in Darlington and Turner Cemetery. 

This family story was submitted to Dr. Antoinette Harrell by Elisha D. Jackson.