Juanita Wallace Jackson

Juanita was a devout Christian, projecting a demeanor that was accurately perceived almost immediately by those who met her as caring and compassionate. Children and adults quickly came to love and trust her. She was a member of Hurlbut Church on the grounds of Chautauqua Institution. Juanita was active in the church at the local and district levels, assuming various roles including serving as a lay preacher and creating Christian and interfaith services for special occasions. She also served Chautauqua Institution’s Department of Religion as a volunteer.

A1949 graduate of East High School in Akron, OH, she earned her BS from the University of Cincinnati and an M. Ed from Miami U. of Ohio, preparing for her career in education. Initially focusing on elementary education in Cincinnati and Potomac, MD, she taught at various levels including college in MA. She held a number of senior administrative and consulting positions including Director of Kindergarten Education for Wilmington, MA and Senior Supervisor and Curriculum Specialist for the MA Dept. of Ed. She was responsible for a system-wide reading program for the Cincinnati Public School System and supervised a Head Start program in Cobleskill, NY. She also managed a Business Development center for minorities and women for the Albany NY Chamber of Commerce and SUNY Albany. When she moved from the area, the Chamber gave her a banquet and the Albany mayor declared a “Juanita Wallace Jackson Day.”

Juanita’s primary avocation was as a classically trained singer. She performed an extensive repertoire, including operatic and classical music and performed in summer stock theater. She participated in Chautauqua’s Motet Choir and other local choirs. After talking with a Sunday School class about African American history, she was inspired to create a narrated program of spirituals and African-American poetry “Honoring the Legacy.” Variations of this program were presented several times at Chautauqua, Jamestown, and other venues from Florida to Maine.

In 1976 Juanita responded to an “empty nest” by becoming a “professional volunteer,” donating most of her time to non-profit organizations, mostly related to music or other arts. While it is not practical to list all of the organizations she supported or even those she led, a few illustrate her commitment to serve her community. She was president of the 1,000 member National Symphony Orchestra Women’s Committee and the international Association of Major Symphony Orchestra Volunteers, and vice-chair of the Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees, She founded a local chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters. She was a member of The Links, a social and service organization, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and the American Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gama, and other professional organizations.

Juanita had been a Chautauquan for 46 years, having been introduced to it with her husband in 1978. They took up residence here in 2006 and are a 5 generation Chautauqua family.

Juanita is survived by her loving husband, John A. Jackson, whom she married on April 21, 1967, a son, Blaine (Maureen) Gibson, a son-in-law, Richard Mueller, four grandchildren, Elizabeth (Kevin) Harris, Eva (Dylan) Perry, Emily (Quinton) Ockenga, and John Gibson, four great grandchildren, a niece and 2 nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Karen Gibson Mueller and a brother, William Wallace.

Calling hours with the family will be on December 21 between 2 and 5 pm at the Freay Funeral Home, 139 S Erie St, Mayville, NY 14757. A memorial service is planned during the summer of 2025 at the Hurlbut Memorial Church on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution.

The family will appreciate memorial donations to the Robert H Jackson Center (https://www.roberth jackson.org/donation-campaign/your-gifts-your-future/ or 305 E 4th St, Jamestown, NY 14701).

To leave a remembrance or to post condolences to the family, please visit freayfuneralhome.com.