~n illlehration of Wly IJlif of 
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February 16, 1908- January 19, 1999 
Saturday, January 23, 1999 -11:00 A.M.- 
Jfjrinosqip ~aptist Qlqurrq 
437 Mitchell Street, Southwest Atlanta, Georgia 
The Reverend Dr. William V. Guy, Pastor Presiding 
 
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Jjrne <!ktrnlyn 3B.nhhzJ}a.ckznn, eldest of six daughters of John Wesley and 
Irene Thompson [Joblss, was born February 16, 1908 in Atlanta, Georgia, into a family where the values stressed were education, exploration and dedication to one's fellowman . Irene was educated at Spelman Academy and Spelman College. In 1929, she met and fell deeply in love with the late Reverend Dr. Maynard Holbrook Jackson. Despite their attachment, Irene went to France to pursue the equivalent of the Masters degree from the University of Toulouse. Maynard joined her in 1933 when they were wed in Le Capitol at Toulouse and honeymooned on the French Riviera. The couple returned, dedicating their lives to the work of God through New Hope Baptist Church (Dallas, Texas), Friendship Baptist Church, (Atlanta, Georgia), the community, six children, education, music, politics and each other. 
Irene Jackson was the personification of love, caring, motherhood, spousal devotion, friendship and the extension of oneself to others. Her children, her students- all who knew her- were impacted by her willingness to share advice and her straightforward and optimistic philosophy of life. Irene Jackson never taught a lesson without teaching a lesson. In addition, she crusaded for her people, a manifestation of which was her courageous and successful integration in 1959 of the main Atlanta Public Library by becoming the first African American to hold that library card. 
In 1953, her beloved husband passed. She set about the task of raising and educating their six children, then ages 3 to 18. With untold sacrifice and determination, in 1956 Irene took her three youngest children to Toulouse, France, where, within two years, she earned at the University of Toulouse the Doctorates Lettres avec mention (Doctor of Letters with honors). 
Dr. Irene Dobbs Jackson's educational career as a professor of French (also Latin and Music) spanned 50 years , shared with Spelman College, Clark College, Atlanta University, Jackson State University and North Carolina Central University, where she spent the last 19 years of her career as Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages. 
Music was a keynote to her life. In addition to accompanying her famous sister, opera diva Mattiwilda Dobbs, in numerous recitals, Irene shared her wonderful piano playing talents with her family , music students and people in the community from age 10 to 90- 80 years of spreading musical joy throughout the world . 
Irene brightened the lives of her husband and her children : Irene Baraniuk, Jeanne Oladele (deceased), Maynard Holbrook Jackson, II , Valerie Richardson Jackson (daughter-in-law), Carol Ann Miller, Constance Carter and Paul Jackson; her grandchildren: Paulo Rivas, Alawode Oladele, Olatunde Oladele, Elizabeth Jackson, Brooke Jackson, Maynard Jackson, Ill, Valerie-Amanda Jackson, Alexandra Jackson, Norman Miller, Ill , Nathania! Carter, Karl Carter, Janna Carter, Clayton Carter, and Mark Stieg Jackson; and her great-grandchildren: Shafiq and Akin Tunde Oladele. She inspired her sisters: Willie Dobbs Blackburn , Josephine Dobbs Clement (deceased), Millicent Dobbs Jordan (deceased), Mattiwilda Dobbs Janzon and June Dobbs Butts; and numerous cousins. 
Even in death, Irene Carolyn Dobbs Jackson is the epitome of all that is good in life. 
 
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PRELUDE ................................................................................. Kenneth Wynn Organist 
 
PROCESSIONAL 
INVOCATION .................................................................................. Pastor Guy 
HYMN No. 50 .............................................................................. Congregation ''Abide With Me" 
SCRIPTURE ......................................... Psalm 100, Proverbs 31:1 0-12; 25-31 Dr. June Dobbs Butts, Sister 
SOLO .................................................................................... Henrietta Anton in ''If I Can Help Somebody" 
 
TRIBUTES: City of Atlanta, The Honorable William Campbell, Mayor Spelman College, Dr. Eloise Abernathy, Director of Alumnae Affairs 
SELECTION ................................................... Valerie-Amanda Dejoie Jackson Pianist, Granddaughter 
''Moonlight Sonata- 1st Movement, Opus 27 #2" .................. Beethoven 
SELECTION ................................................................ Friendship Senior Choir "Close To Thee" 
EULOGY .............................. The Honorable Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Son Former Mayor, City of Atlanta 
 
SELECTION ........................ ''A Song For Mama" ........................ Boyz II Men (From "Soul Food') 
 
MEDITATION MEDLEY ............................................ Dr. Irene Dobbs Jackson Pianist 
(Recorded circa 1987) 
 
BENEDICTION RECESSIONAL 
 
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South-View Cemetery 1990 Jonesboro Road, Southeast 
Atlanta, Georgia 
 
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 "Life is one obstacle after another. The test of life is how well you get up when life knocks you down." 
-Irene Dobbs Jackson 
 
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The Deacon Board of Friendship The Deaconess Board of Friendship 
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The Inquirers Club The Links, Inc. 
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The family of Irene Dobbs Jackson thanks you for each kind expression of sympathy. Your thoughts and prayers have served and will continue to serve as a source of uplifting inspiration. 
 
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