Obituary: Virginia "Ginger" White Jackson

Virginia “Ginger” White Jackson (August 24, 1942-January 9, 2024).

Fifty-year Windermere resident Ginger Jackson died peacefully in her home on Jan. 9. Ginger was born in 1942 in Poplarville, Mississippi, to Lee and Sue White. With her older brother Ben (1940-2020), the White family were active members of the community and long-time members of First United Methodist Church. Her father, Lee, owned the Ford Dealership, a fuel distributorship, and was president of a local bank that became Hancock Bank.

Ginger was the Valedictorian of her Poplarville, MS, High School and attended Millsaps College in Mississippi. She was part of the Troubadours Choir, which gave her opportunities to travel the country and Europe singing, sightseeing, and making lifelong friends. Upon graduation, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and attended Vanderbilt University’s Peabody School where she received her Ph.D. in Psychology. While in Nashville she met the love of her life, Thomas “Glenn” Jackson, Jr.

Glenn and Ginger were married in December 1965. Thomas Glenn Jackson III (Jack) was born in 1968. Glenn got his first job opportunity in real estate development with First Continental, and they moved to New York City, where Lee Calhoun Jackson was born in 1970. After a couple of cold winters on Long Island, Ginger decided the family was ready for warm weather again. Glenn was at that point spending most weeks in Central Florida as his company had several projects in and around what became Walt Disney World. Ginger, Lee, and Jack accompanied Glenn on a business trip to Orlando in early 1971. After spending a wonderful winter week outside, by the hotel pool, she decided her family would move to Orlando, and Glenn could travel to New York whenever he wanted.

The family moved to Winter Park where they lived for 3 years. They quickly came to love the community and made many lifelong friends in their neighborhood and at First Presbyterian Church of Winter Park. Tracy Lynn Jackson was born in Orlando in 1973. That same year Glenn found a piece of land in the quiet, beautiful, and seemingly distant town of Windermere. Ginger wasn't sure if she would embrace a move as she drove through the cow pastures and endless orange groves on her way to visit Windermere for the first time. But she quickly fell In love with the lakes, her garden, and her new friends, making Windermere her home until her death.

Ginger’s professional career included working for Orange County Public Schools, teaching at Valencia Community College, and in private practice with Pediatric Associates of Orlando as a child psychologist. She also volunteered in numerous ways including at her children’s schools, Presbyterian Church of the Lakes, and then at St. Luke's United Methodist. At St. Luke's she was involved for many years leading Disciple Bible Study, Grief Recovery, and the choir. She also appreciated being part of the Board of Ordained Ministry for the United Methodist Church.

Ginger will be remembered as a wonderful mother, loving wife, and dear friend to many. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her children, Tracy, Lee, and Jack; as well as daughters-in-law, Anna Jackson and Rebecca Jackson; grandchildren, Olivia Sage Jackson, Holden Calhoun Jackson, Sophie Lorraine Jackson and Thomas (Toby) Glenn Jackson IV.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Jackson; parents, Lee and Sue White; and brother, Ben White.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to St Luke's United Methodist Church or brainsupportnetwork.org/ or med.miami.edu/programs/brain-endowment-bank.

A memorial service will be held at St. Luke's United Methodist Church at 4851 S. Apopka Vineland Road, at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, with a reception to follow.

The service can be viewed at: vimeo.com/event/4009691.