Celebration of Life, Edwin Joseph Brown Jackson, December 19, 1991 - February 4, 2018, Monday, February 12, 2018, 11:00 a.m., Big Bethel A.M.E. Church, 220 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, Bishop James L. Davis, Eulogist, Reverend John Foster, Ph.D., Senior Pastor

December 19, 1991 -February 4, 2018
Monday, February 12, 2018 11 :00 a.m.
Big Bethel A.M .E. Church
220 Auburn Avenue Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Bishop James L. Davis , Eulogist Reverend John Foster, Ph.D, Senior Pastor

On December 19, 1991, Edwin Joseph Brown Jackson was welcomed into this world by his devoted parents, Mary and Wesley Jackson in Atlanta, Georgia. As the eighth of eleven siblings, Edwin was embraced with love and groomed from birth to be resilient, determined, honest, hardworking, humble, and God-fearing. He made his transition from this earthly state on February 4, 2018. He was preceded in death by his sister, Gracia.
Edwin received his early education at A. Philip Randolph Elementary, Victory Charter, Sandtown Middle, and Westlake High SchooL An honor student at Westlake, Edwin progressed through high school with exceptional grace while participating in several academic activities and Varsity athletics. He was a member of the Westlake track team, the Drama Club, the Atlanta Metropolitan College TRIO Upward Bound Program, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. As a popular and well-liked classmate, Edwin lifted his peers with his energetic spirit He was recognized and respected by both his peers and the staff to be a treasured student leader. Inspired by his family's musical inclination, Edwin played the saxophone, piano, and guitar.
Edwin accepted Christ at the tender age often. He worshiped with his family at Big Bethel AME Church. He joyfully sang in the Emma Scott Youth Choir, served in the Azira Hill Acolyte Ministry, participated in the Young People's Department (YPD) of the AME church, and the Horizon of Hope Youth Usher Board. His greatest passion in Christian service was participating in the Signs ofPraise Mime Ministry. Edwin brought joy to all who knew him with his contagious smile and love of life.
Thanks to his large, loving, and active family, Edwin always had siblings to compete with athletically. He became interested in sports at a very young age- he started playing one-on-one basketball with his much older brothers Wesley and Adam at the ripe age of three! His interest in various sports was further developed by his participation in the recreational programs at Sandtown, Ben Hill, and Cascade parks. Edwin was also a star wrestler. While at Westlake, Edwin won several local and regional titles in Varsity wrestling. As a senior, he was the first wrestler in school history to place as a finalist in the Georgia High School Sports Association Championship. He served as a team captain, kicker, and linebacker on the football team, and was named regional honorable mention place-kicker. After graduating from Westlake in 2010, Edwin was determined to play Division I Football despite not having received any scholarship offers. He chose to attend Georgia Southern University (GSU) in Statesboro, Georgia because of its stellar academic and athletic programming, and his desire to stay close to his home and family in Atlanta. Edwin was aware that attending GSU would enhance his opportunity to fulfill his dream of playing for the National Football League.
Edwin enrolled at GSU in 2010, and promptly tried out for the football team. Thankfully, Edwin made the team as a walk-on that fall, an accomplishment of which he was extremely proud. Earning playing time under head coach Jeff Monken was a challenge Edwin was willing and ready to accept He trained relentlessly. Edwin was first given an opportunity to play on the GSU Eagles special teams unit, where he played from 2011-2012. Edwin exceeded expectations. He studied the plays, analyzed field positions, and sharpened his precise and strategic on-field decision-making skills. His hard work paid off- Edwin made the most special team tackles on the team during those two years! Edwin showed so much excitement after each tackle that television cameras would often remain focused on him three plays later! He took full advantage of every opportunity he had on the field.
Edwin became GSU's starting linebacker in his junior year, after earning the coaches' trust and respect. The show was on!! Edwin quickly anchored the GSU Defense, leading the team in tackles in 2013. A highlight game from that year featured Edwin posting a team-leading 13 tackles in a 26-20 upset win against the University of Florida. Who would have thought that a small town college could defeat the Gators, a Division I powerhouse? Edwin did! That game made news across the country. Edwin was one of its stars.
In college, Edwin started to focus on using his platform to 1notivate and inspire others to reach and achieve their dreams. For example, during one Christmas break, Edwin and a classmate traveled to Costa Rica and hosted a football clinic for local youth. Edwin routinely volunteered with the Special Olympics program and other community service activities in Statesboro.
Edwin's senior year came with a coaching change, as Willi Fritz took the reins as the GSU head coach. GSU also moved up from Division I FCS to the more competitive Division I FBS Sun Belt Conference. These changes gave Edwin more practice in turning obstacles into opportunity. He quickly acquainted himself with the new coaches and was soon appointed as team captain. With Edwin's help, GSU drove a freight train through the Stm Belt Conference, going undefeated in conference play and winning the Sun Belt Championship in 2014! Edwin received many national awards after his senior year in 2014, including First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors.

Edwin is considered one of the best linebackers in GSU history, earning the reputation as an elite run stopping defender, with exceptional pass coverage skills.
In the spring of 2015 , Edwin left GSU just shy of graduating to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL. Edwin spent several months training to play professional football at a specialized facility in Chicago, and he expected to be drafted after his strong senior season and phenomenal pro day numbers. Naturally, he was disappointed when he was not picked up in the NFL Draft, but was quickly redeemed as he signed as an Undrafted Free Agent with the Arizona Cardinals. He moved to Arizona and fell in love with the city of Phoenix, where he was embraced by the team, coaching staff, and fans. Arizona is also where he picked up the nickname "Poundcake," after giving the entire Arizona coaching staff samples of his mom's homemade pound cakes. Although Edwin performed well during the preseason games, he was released from the Cardinals at the conclusion of the preseason.
Edwin returned home and waited for a call to join another team. Although this was a trying time for Edwin, he continued to train twice a day. Edwin's community, family, and friends kept him motivated and hopeful that a team would eventually call to pick him up. Finally, in late December, after returning from a tiring shift at UPS, he received a call from the Indianapolis Colts that they wanted him to join their practice squad. Edwin was thrilled about the opportunity, now knowing that Indianapolis would be the place he would make his mark in the NFL.
With 3 NFL games remaining in the season, Edwin joined the Colts' practices squad, and once the regular season came around in 2016, he made the 53-man roster!! After he made the team, Edwin's next challenge was to earn playing time. Edwin embraced obstacles, and, just like at Georgia Southern, his first on the field opportunity came on the special teams unit. During the first half of the season with the Colts, led by head coach Chuck Pagano, Edwin led the special team units in tackles. And, also similar to his days at GSU, Edwin made sure everyone in the stadium or watching on television knew how much he wanted to be on the field after every tackle. Edwin performed so well that he was nominated to be a Pro-Bowl Special Teams player. At the halfway point of the season, the linebacker unit had thinned due to injury or poor performance, leading the coaches to give their new bright star on special teams a chance. In Edwin's first linebacker series against the Tennessee Titans, he made all 3 tackles, resulting in a quick 3 and out for he and the defense. On that 3rd tackle, Edwin jumped up and gave an exuberant shout and fist throw in the air. The cameras and fans loved it!
The remaining 8 games continued with the Colts in the playoff hunt, and Edwin proved to himself and all who were watching that he was a legitimate NFL linebacker. Edwin led his team in tackles during those 8 games, and ended up 3rd overall in tackles for the entire season with 66 tackles. His performance was exceptional- he sacked Alex Smith in his first start against the Chiefs, he chased down quarterback Marcus Mariota for a sack in a close home win against the Titans, and made a huge behind the line of scrimmage tackle against the Jets ' Joe Forte on Monday Night Football. After the Forte hit, notable NFL comn1entator Jon Gruden shouted out to the national broadcast, "They nicknamed hin1 Poundcake, because he will POUND YOU !"
Immediately after his impressive first season with the Colts, Edwin began using his platform as an NFL player to reach groups of all ages and walks of life . He loved to share his "DON'T QUIT" message with others, and he did so through the community service projects that he took on during the off-season. Edwin visited local schools and summer camps in Atlanta where he hosted pop-up motivational clinics. On a hot summer day in the summer of 2017, he traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina and visited an inner-city Boys & Girls Club. There, he shared his inspirational story to a group of200 young men and gave them a day they 'll always remember. He also gave them Poundcake stickers and goody bags full of Colts paraphernalia. Most importantly to the campers, however, Edwin brought cold popsicles! That same smnmer, Edwin was invited to Harvard University to share his story with a social media marketing class. Edwin's story is like water- it flows to anyone regardless of their life circumstance saying: DON'T QUIT!
Edwin was placed on the Colts' 2017 injured reserved roster to rehabilitate an injury. During this time, Edwin remained positive, optimistic, and determined to return to the field even better than he had left. He developed an even deeper relationship with his family and friends, reflected on the person he had become and clarified who he wanted to be. He worked aggressively to improve himself in every facet of his life: spiritually, emotionally, and physically. He was preparing himself and those closest to him for his next mission.
Edwin's passionate life was shared with a large extended family and countless friends who will go on to cherish his memory including his parents, Mary and Wesley Jackson; siblings, Wesley III, William-Adam (Kandis), Cora (Charles), Mary (Courtney), M.Ellen Michelle, Victoria, Henry, Stephen and Celeste; nephew, Wesley IV; grandmother, Ellen Powell; godparents, Joe and Toni Robinson; Brenda Scott Powell, Great Aunt Clara Johnson, Azira Hill, the Jackson, Powell and Monroe families, and teammates and communities of the Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, Georgia Southern University, Westlake and Sandtown.

6)1/"~ C@de6~
The Reverend Joyce C. Young, Worship Leader

Organ Prelude.................................................................................................................................. Mr. Philip Skerett

Bringing Forth the Light. ............................................................................................. Alaya Boykin and Kelly Ogle
The Big Bethel Music Ministry.............................................................................................. Reverend Vernon Jones Minister of Music and Arts, St. Paul
AME Church Coconut Grove, Florida
Ministry in Music...................................................................................................................................... Total Praise

Processional........................................................................................................................ J Just Want To Praise You Hymn of Celebration............................................................................................................Great is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, 0 God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changes not, Thy compassion's, they fa1l not As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Summer and winter, springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above; Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth Thine own dear presence to cheer and to auide Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow Blessings all mine, with ten thousana beside!

Refrain Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness, Morning by Morning new mercies I see!
All/ have needed Thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Invocation..................................................................................... ... ..................Reverend Nathaniel Robinson III Pastor, Greater St. Paul AMEC, Coconut Grove, Florida
The Old Testament Lesson................. .....................Psalm 27: ! ............................... Senior Pastor Reverend John Foster Big Bethel AME Church
The New Testament Lesson.......................... I Thessalonians 5: l6-24................................... Reverend Maurice Wright St. John AME, Huntsville, Alabama
Musical Selection.......................................................................................................................... Perfect Praise

Big Bethel AME Church......... ............................ ...... .................... ...... .......................................... Alaya Boykin Big Bethel AME Youth Representative
The Ministry ofMusic .............................................................................................................................God Is Dr. Jacqueline McCalop, Shelley Webster- Soloists
Edwin' s Coaches & Manager.......................................................................................................Jeffrey Monken United States Military Academy
Willie Fritz Tulane University

Edwin's Coaches and Manager .......................................................... Chuck Pagano, Former Colts, Head Coach Chris Ballard, Colts General Manager
City ofAtlanta..................................................................................................................The Honorable Kasim Reed 59th Mayor, City ofAtlanta
City of Indianapolis............................................................ .................................................................. David Thornton Colts, Director of Player Engagement
City of South Fulton................................................ ........... .............................................The Honorable Bill Edwards Mayor, City of South Fulton
Acknowledgments.............................................................. ............................................................. Tracee T. Coleman The Ministry of Mime...................................................................................................................................... Hosanna
William Dye IV, Gamal Jolly, Cornelius Pettway, Henderson Pettway and Jory Young
Indianapolis Colts Video Tribute
Dr. Robert Jackson Wesley Jackson III and William-Adam Jackson
The Williams Sisters If You're Happy and You Know It
A Musical Tribute Wesley Jackson Jr.
The Eulogy............................................................................ . ...................................................Bishop Jatnes L. Davis Presiding Prelate, 2nd Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church
The Benedition......................................................................................................................... Bishop James L. Davis
The Recessional. ....................................................................................................................... How Great Is Our God
Interment Lincoln Cemetery 2275 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30314

Josh Gebhardt Marcus Griffen Bryan Jackson Ryan Longoria Kyle Oehlbeck Anthony Scott Mike Wallace Devonte Winslow
Mike Adams Tyre11 Adatns Travis Booker Matthias Farley Keyaron Fox Adam Jones
Sean Jones Jerick McKinnon Antonio Morrison Cameron Newton John Stevenson Chance Warmack Antwione Williams
Christmas Family Friends Friends of Georgia Southern Friends of Sandtown Community
In Lieu ofFlowers Please make a donation in Edwin's honor to the Edwin Jackson 53
Foundation at: www.Edwinlackson53. com
Bishop James Davis, Pastor John Foster, Big Bethel AME Church, Jim Irsay and Family, Rev. Vernon Jones, Rev. Joyce Young,
Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, City ofAtlanta, GA, City ofIndianapolis, IN, City ofSouth Fulton, GA, Georgia Southern University, and Westlake High School.
The family ofthe late Edwin Joseph Brown Jackson wishes to express sincere appreciation for every prayer, thought, act ofkindness, food, foundation donation and concern shown during this difficult period.
Our prayer is for God's continued blessings upon you.