Dr. Jackson graduated from Baltimore City College High School and went on to attend the prestigious Morehouse University in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Jackson completed his first two years of undergraduate education at Morehouse and subsequently transferred to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. There, he would complete his undergraduate degree and meet his soon-to-be wife and life partner, Dorye Michelle Emory.  

Tommie Jackson and Dorye Michelle Emory were married in June 1977. Shortly after they married, the Jacksons moved to Houston, Texas, where Dr. Jackson attended Texas Southern University to pursue his Juris Doctor. The Jacksons would later return to Baltimore, Maryland, where Dr. Jackson completed law school at the University of Maryland Law School.  Dr. Jackson was adamant about social justice, equity, and inclusion.  While in Maryland, Dr. Jackson worked for the City Government in various capacities, serving as an advocate and change agent for the people.  

In November 1981, Tommie and Dorye Jackson welcomed their first child, a daughter named Erin Marie, into the world.  In January 1986, Tommie and Dorye welcomed their second child, a daughter named Evinn Leigh, to the world. Dr. Jackson’s daughters would become two of his proudest accomplishments.
 
 
 
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While Dr. Jackson was passionate about social justice, his passion for the Lord was always primary. He knew he was called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

In 1987, Dr. Jackson answered the call to ministry.  He continued with the theme of Black Excellence and was mentored in ministry under the guidance of the late Dr. Harold A. Carter Sr.  Under Dr. Carter’s mentorship, Dr. Jackson learned some of his core values of pastoring and leading God’s chosen ones. 

Dr. Jackson answered his first call to Pastorship in 1990 at Calvary Baptist Church in Chester, Pennsylvania. While at Calvary, Dr. Jackson touched the lives of the congregation he served and the community.  He continued his involvement in politics while there and stood in the gap whenever he could for those in need, following God’s word and making lifelong friendships along the way.  

Dr. Jackson’s tenacity for God’s work and his willingness to follow God’s leadership led him to Stamford, Connecticut, in 1997, where he answered his second calling to Pastoral Ministry at Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. For 20 years, Dr. Jackson served as the Pastor of Faith Tabernacle.  During his tenure at Faith, Dr. Jackson spearheaded numerous projects for the expansion of God’s kingdom, including the addition of a chapel, classrooms, and a library.  Dr. Jackson continued to serve the Stamford community while at Faith Tabernacle with a weekly food bank in an effort to reduce hunger in the community and held annual “back-to-school” drives for children and families to be equipped with supplies to support educational pursuits.  Dr. Jackson was a proponent of education and took the time on a quarterly basis to honor students in the congregation and in the community for academic excellence.  Dr. Jackson served as a spiritual advisor and mentor for the congregation and the community.  He held a mid-week “Hour of Power Service” that was open to the community.  Dr. Jackson’s vision for this space was to bridge the gap for people not to have to wait for Sunday to commune with the Lord.  

While pastoring at Faith, Dr. Jackson continued the spirit of Black Excellence, earning his second doctorate in Theology from New York Theological Seminary.  Not only was he a proponent for education, but he also enjoyed teaching, and upon completing his doctorate at New York Theological Seminary, he went on to become part of the faculty, leading, guiding, and mentoring upcoming soldiers for the army of the Lord.  In addition to his service at Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist and New York Theological Seminary, He was involved in politics at the local and state levels, developing a comradery with many high-elected officials, and at times, advising, assisting, and campaigning for candidates whose messages he believed would serve and better the community he loved Dr. Jackson most recently worked for the City of Stamford. Here, he continued to serve as an advocate, leader, and mentor.  

In 2017, Dr. Jackson Founded the Rehoboth Fellowship Church. Dr. Jackson was diligent in fostering this ministry and desired Rehoboth to be a place that God made for everyone.  He loved his Rehoboth family and was always thinking of ways to expand the ministry to bring more people to Christ.  Dr. Jackson had an insurmountable amount of respect and appreciation for the leadership at Rehoboth and its members, referencing his “team of warriors” daily.  

Dr. Jackson was a major figure in the lives of many.  He was a husband, a father, a grandfather (Buddy), a pastor, an advocate, an educator, a mentor, and a friend, and lived for his calling as a servant of the Lord.  
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The family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to all who have reached out, called, texted, and showed up, and for the outpouring of gestures and condolences offered during this difficult time. May God’s peace, rest, rule, and abide with you always, until the end of days.