Ava M. Jackson

Life Story of Ms. Ava Maxine Jackson

Ms. Ava (aka “Big Max”) was born to the late Matthew Russell and Ava Hines Russell

Thomas on March 1, 1948, in Manhattan, New York, the eldest of three children. She

quietly entered her heavenly home at the Christiana Hospital in Newark, DE on

Saturday, July 6, 2024, at the age of 76 after experiencing a short illness. As she

wanted, both her daughter and son were by her side as she was ushered into her final

resting home to be with her Lord.

Ms. Ava received her education in the Wilmington Public Schools attending Stubbs

Elementary, Bancroft Junior High, and graduated from Howard Senior High School.

After graduation, she worked at Kruses Pool as a lifeguard where she met, fell in love

and married Kenneth B. Jackson, Jr. From this union came their daughter, Sonya

Jackson-Walker, followed by the birth of their son, Shawn Jackson. Shortly thereafter,

Ms. Ava took a position with the Wilmington Police Department giving faithful service for

22 years as a Civilian Police Aide, wherein she retired from the city with honors. Ms.

Ava decided to continue her service with the County of New Castle working as a

Crossing Guard for the students of Bancroft and Drew/Pile Elementary Schools, where

she worked for 15 years having given her service as Shop Stewardess representing the

union of crossing guards and again retiring with full honors.

Ms. Ava gave her life to the Lord and was baptized at her daughter’s church, Bethel

Baptist Church in Silver Spring, MD on August 13, 2005. Ms. Ava was an artist wherein

she attended the Art School in Wilmington. She loved playing the acoustic and electric

guitar plus the ukulele. Ms. Ava also spent a great deal of time as an avid reader and

loved her R & B Soul music. But first and foremost, she loved watching old westerns

and police shows and never missed an episode of Murder She Wrote. In fact, you

couldn’t call her until her program ended; she wouldn’t address you by phone or in

person until her show was over with. We can truly say that Ms. Ava loved life and she

was the life of the party. She leaves special memories that will be cherished by her

loving children, Sonya and Shawn, as well as her beloved sister, Roseland, and her

beloved brother Pete. Her memories will also be cherished by her grandchildren and

great-grandchildren, as well as her favorite nephew, Anthony Loadholt, who we lovingly

call “Buddy” plus all her grand nieces and nephews. Ms. Ava was loved by everyone

who knew her, and she treated everyone who came into her door like family whether

you were a blood relative or not. She was the type of person who would give you her

last dollar if you needed it. A born saver, she could turn a nickel into fifty cents. She

taught her children how to manage money and to manage their lives with respect and

honor. She was very proud of both Sonya and Shawn when they graduated from their

respective colleges with bachelor’s degrees later in their lives.

Ms. Ava was preceded in death by her parents and her former spouse. Ms. Ava is

survived by her children, Sonya (John) and Shawn (Kim), her beloved sister, Roseland

Loadholt, and beloved brother, Olden (Pete) Thomas, Jr., her grandsons, Christopher

(Vanessa), Anthony Jr. (Misty), and Justin (Cheria) Brittingham, and her granddaughter,

Courtney Hunter. She is also survived by her nephew, Anthony Loadholt, twelve great-

grandchildren, a host of grand-nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.