Janna Jackson

Janna Jackson was born Janna Kaye Bishop on October 23, 1949, in Deming, NM, the first of 6 children born to Joe and Lu Bishop. 

She was raised on the family farm south of Deming with her siblings and attended Sunshine School through the 8th grade. She graduated from Deming High School in 1967 and attended Hardin-Simmons University until she graduated in 1971. She returned to Deming and began her varied teaching career at Deming High School. She then decided to make a big move to Tatitlek, a small village in Alaska, where she met her loving husband, Sam Jackson, and taught grades 1-12 including Home Economics and Shop. Sam and Janna married at First Baptist Church of Deming in August of 1977 and lived their first years in Tatitlek. From there they moved to Rankin, TX, where she enjoyed many years of teaching at Gossett Elementary. She was a gifted teacher and loved the children she was blessed to teach.

Janna and Sam welcomed their son, Joseph Hayes Jackson, on November 21, 1979, and he was the apple of their eyes. Hayes later married and Janna’s granddaughter, Taight Jackson, was born. Taight was the sunshine to Sam and Janna’s days right from the start. Janna retired from teaching in 2008. A few years later she moved to San Angelo, TX, and lived with Hayes, Taight, Hayes’ wife, Amber, and her children Keely and Lily. 

She loved Jesus, enjoyed her life, loved her family and looked forward to Heaven. After a long illness, Janna passed peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, surrounded by her beloved puppies and with loved ones singing her into Heaven with “Amazing Grace.” 

Janna was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Jackson, her father and her mother. She is survived by her son, Hayes Jackson (Amber), her granddaughters, Taight Jackson, Keely Shaw and Lily Shaw, her brother, David Bishop (Robin), and her sisters, Susan Tolbert (Harvey), Connie Viverette (Charles), Billie Lu Billett-Kim (Robert), and Gina Garcia. The family would like to thank Dr. Chang for the excellent medical care he provided to Janna. 

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 28th, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at the Rankin Cemetery located on County Rd 210, Rankin, TX 79778. Jake Ferguson will be officiating. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude in Janna’s honor.