Willie "Hobo" David Jackson

November 6, 1944 - January 6, 2022

Willie David Jackson was born November 6, 1944 to the late Annie Pearl Sellers and Hezekiah Jackson in Hayneville, a small town in Lowndes County Alabama. He is one of nine siblings, six girls and three boys. The family moved to the city of Birmingham when Willie was a young boy. He attended public schools in Birmingham. It was in elementary school where he received the infamous nickname of “Hobo.” As the story goes, the teacher called on Willie to spell the word hobo in a class spelling bee. Consequently, he was teased by his classmates who started calling him Hobo and thus, the nickname stuck no matter how hard he tried to get rid of it! Willie loved sports and played basketball, football and ran track at Ullman High School. He and three other natives of Birmingham were recruited to play basketball at Morehead State University in Kentucky. He played basketball there from 1965-69. Willie is commonly regarded as one of the most outstanding athletes to ever wear an Eagle uniform. He was inducted into the Morehead Hall of Fame for Men’s Basketball in 2008. It was at Morehead that Willie accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior and was baptized at the Baptist Church. Willie graduated from Morehead in 1970. He received a B.A. degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Upon graduating, he had the awesome experience of trying out with the Washington Bullets and the Kentucky Colonels professional basketball teams. However, he was not selected by either of the teams. He then moved to Louisville, Kentucky and began a teaching and coaching career at Harvey C. Russell Junior High School in the Louisville Public School System. Several years later, he accepted a teaching and coaching position at the former Bishop David Catholic High School. He was eventually hired by the Jefferson County Public School System and began teaching and coaching. He earned a M. A. of Education degree in Exceptional Child Education from the University of Louisville in 1999 which certified him to teach special education classes in addition to health and physical education. He worked at the following schools in JCPS: Waller-Williams Environmental School, Kammerer Middle School, Western High School and retired from Seneca High School in 2015. He coached the following sports throughout his career: football, girls’ and boys’ basketball, baseball, softball, golf and track. In addition to his career with the school system, Willie also was employed as a Recreation Supervisor with Metro Parks and worked in several community centers in Louisville. Willie was a dedicated and committed teacher. In 2008, The Louisville Defender Newspaper presented him The Professional Achievement Award “In Recognition Of Personal And Professional Commitment To Education.” In 2014, Willie received the Hilliard Lyons Excellence Award In Recognition of Outstanding Teaching Performance. For many years, Willie was an active member in the Greater Louisville Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Willie was one of Seneca High School’s multi-sport FCA huddle sponsors and encouraged a weekly FCA time for his girls’ basketball teams each season. Willie and his wife, Shirley, were staple couples at annual FCA Coach Spouse Marriage Retreats and Coach Date Nights sponsored by the area FCA ministry. Willie was a former member of Hill Street Missionary Baptist Church where he was actively involved for many years. Rev. Horace C. Mitchell and Rev. Gregory F. Smith were pastors during that time. Rev. Smith officiated his marriage to Shirley Fuqua in 1985. He joined St. Stephen Church in 2007 under the leadership of Reverend Kevin W. Cosby, Senior Pastor. He immediately became a member of the Usher Ministry and joined Sunday School. He was an active member of “God’s Faithful Servants” Sunday School Class. He also participated in many of the Men’s Ministry activities and Marriage Ministry activities with his wife. Willie coached a women’s softball team at Hill Street Baptist Church and facilitated recreation activities during Vacation Bible School at Hill Street Baptist Church and St. Stephen Church. Willie was initiated into the Louisville Alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity in 1989 where he continued his legacy of service and mentoring youth in the community. In his leisure time, Willie loved to play softball! He was a longtime member of the Jabali’s (which means “Rock” in Swahili) and O. G.’s men’s softball teams as well as many other local teams. He played positions on first base and in the outfield. He used to thrill the fans when he knocked the ball out of the park and made a homerun. Willie was inducted into the Louisville Metro Softball Hall of Fame in 1985 and was made an Honorary Kentucky Colonel by Governor Martha Layne Collins. Willie is a former member of the Newburg Tennis Club. He gave back to the community by volunteering to teach youth how to play tennis and assisting with the Special Olympics. Willie was also a member of the Louisville Urban League Guild whose mission is to unite, strengthen and support the Louisville Urban League and it’s endeavors with volunteerism and community service. Willie was genuinely a “people person.” He had a bigger than life personality, never met a stranger and made others laugh with his crazy sense of humor! When meeting someone new for the first time, he might be asked, “Who are you?” In response, he’d throw them off guard by answering, “Well, you can call me Mr. Jackson!” It was his way of breaking the ice. He has touched the lives of many young people. When out in public, he’d often run into former students and was always greeted with a cheerful “Hello Mr. Jackson or Coach Jackson!” Many of them would let him know how much they appreciated him as a teacher/mentor or let him know what a difference he had made in their lives. He officially retired in 2015 but continued to work as a Substitute Teacher until 2020. Willie was married to his loving wife, Shirley, for 36 years. She is a former teacher, counselor and principal in the Jefferson County Public School System. In their retirement, they enjoyed traveling, attending social and sports events and dining out together. Willie is preceded in death by his parents, Annie Pearl and Hezekiah Jackson; sisters, Annie Grant and Loubertha Pfiefer; brother, Phillip Sellers and daughter, Valencia Michelle Jackson. He leaves to mourn his wife, Shirley Fuqua-Jackson; daughter, Tara Smith (Tamp, FL); six grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren (Tampa, FL); four sisters: Gleasine Williams, Annie Wren, Eddie Mae Bandy Anderson (Birmingham, AL), Rhonda Faye Jones (Anthony) Sumter, SC and brother, Robert Jackson (Louisville, KY); and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends. In memory of Willie Jackson donations can be made to Simmons College of Kentucky. Services will be live stream Via: Facebook and YouTube