Swamp Creek bridge renamed to honor the late Reverend Louis Jackson

A special ceremony was held to celebrate the renaming of Swamp Creek Bridge in Jameison on Friday, March 24.

The bridge will now be known as “Reverend Louis Jackson Bridge,” in honor of an influential and beloved member of the Jameison community, a dedicated fisherman who died at his favorite fishing spot under the Swamp Creek Bridge on March 19, 2016.

The event began at 4 p.m. at the nearby St. Hebron AME Church with a remembrance of Reverend Jackson, in which family, friends, and members of the Gadsden County Board of Commissioners spoke of Jackson’s impact on their lives and community.

District 2 Commissioner Alonzetta Simpkins made the opening remarks and introduced each speaker, followed by an invocation by Elder Jeffery Griggs, Pastor of New Bethel Primitive Baptist Church.

After the invocation, Jackson’s nephew, Franklin Williams spoke about how Jackson treated him like a son and helped him gain direction in life.

“He was a good man,” Williams remembered. “He was a fair man. He was a hard man. A true man of God.”

Dr. Anthony Viegbesie, retired County Commissioner District 2, also spoke at the ceremony, telling the story of how the bridge renaming came to fruition.

“One day, as I was driving over this bridge as I have many times in the past, , it came upon my spirit to memorialize this bridge to Reverend Jackson.”

Dr. Viegbesie, after getting permission from Jackson’s widow Myrtle, went through the appropriate agencies to get permission, and eventually brought a motion for the name change before the Gadsden County Board of Commissioners, who voted unanimously to approve it.

Myrtle Jackson also spoke at the ceremony, thanking those who attended for honoring her husband’s memory.

“Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday, unseen, unheard, but always near, so loved, so missed, and so very dear.”

Following closing remarks from District 3 Commissioner Kimblin NeSmith, attendees walked or drove the short distance from the church down Salem Road to the bridge, where a new sign was unveiled, displaying the new name for the bridge.

Stephen Klein - Gadsden County News Service

Swamp Creek bridge renamed to honor the late Reverend Louis Jackson

Cooperative Extension: Asian Lady Beetles: Harmless Garden Helpers or Aggressive Invaders?

Cooperative Extension: Asian Lady Beetles: Harmless Garden Helpers or Aggressive Invaders?

Cooperative Extension: Asian Lady Beetles: Harmless Garden Helpers or Aggressive Invaders?

Recommended

Two murders, five days apart – Single arrest made in connection to two Quincy murders

Senior citizens honored by the Shaw Quarters community

Popular News

Quincy City Commission District 5 candidates Q & A

Former Quincy city commissioner and current candidate Keith Dowdell dies

Cat Tales

Plucking the strings of a global economy from my back porch

Legal Notices

Newsletter

Category

Site Links

About Us

Welcome Back!

Create New Account!

Retrieve your password

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?

Swamp Creek bridge renamed to honor the late Reverend Louis Jackson

Support local journalism. Subscribe to The Gadsden County Times.

Subscribe

Cooperative Extension: Asian Lady Beetles: Harmless Garden Helpers or Aggressive Invaders?

Cooperative Extension: Asian Lady Beetles: Harmless Garden Helpers or Aggressive Invaders?

Recommended

Popular News

Newsletter

Category

Site Links

About Us

Welcome Back!

Create New Account!

Retrieve your password

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?