Mrs. Cherry E. Jackson

Our beloved, Cherry Collier Jackson, came into this world more than seven decades ago in the Fourth Ward of Atlanta, Georgia on August 27, 1942.  She was the third born of sevensiblings. Her parents were Clifford Perkins and Annie Pearl Strong.  Known as one of the most loving, giving, considerate and dependable persons in her community, Cherry left this earthly life on January 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.   Cherry’s story is both purposeful and impactful!  Her life was all about her deep love for her family, friends, and the Atlanta Falcons. Affectionately known as “Big Cherry, Mama Cherry, Aunt Cherry and Tee Tee,” Cherry was selfless with her time and beloved by so many!  Undeniably, the apple of her eye was her daughter and namesake, “Little Cherry!”

Cherry began her high school education in Covington, GA at Washington Street High School

and completed her studies in Larochelle, France in 1960.  She returned to the States and attended Rutledge College where shereceived her Associates degree in Business Administration.   

From a young age, Cherry loved to give, serve, and take care of others. In the late 60’s, Cherry met and married the late KharnCollier.  This union would give Cherry her beloved and cherished daughter, Cherry A. Collier!  She later married the love of her life, the late Elbert Jackson, and they raised their beautiful daughter together.  Elbert took pride in being the protector and provider of his home and gave Cherry the primary responsibility of being the homemaker for their family!

Rearing “Little Cherry” became the passion of her life! Cherryspent every waking moment making sure that her baby girl grew to become a woman of substance and influence.  Educating “Little Cherry” and creating the optimal loving and caring environment for her child was of great importance.  A loving homemaker during her daughter’s primary years, Cherry raised her daughter to be a top scholar!  When “Little Cherry” decided to attend the prestigious Spelman College for her undergraduate studies, Cherry decided to join the workforce at Spelman.  Her 25 years of service to this illustrious institution made her “Mama Cherry” to many!  Her presence and love for the women of Spelman College grew well beyond her daughter’s friends, and her influence and love still resonates with every life she touched!

A great listener and doer, Cherry always encouraged her daughter to follow her dreams and become a purposeful and impactful leader.  She beamed with pride when “Little Cherry” received her Masters and Doctorate from the University of Georgia and rested in the knowledge that she had raised her daughter to be fearless, compassionate and a pillar in their community!

Her love for family was immeasurable, unending and unconditional!  Her God-daughter and niece, Marci Collier Overstreet, was more like a second daughter for her.  She reared both Marci and “Little Cherry” as sisters and never missed a moment to nurture, admonish, and guide them to become women of purpose.  She taught them to have faith and determination, to give their best, and to remain humble while serving.  That same love would spread over to nieces, nephews,siblings, friends, and to her community.  

To know Cherry was to know she LOVED the Atlanta Falcons!  A faithful fan to the end, Cherry missed few opportunities to see her favorite team play at home games and could always be found in front of a big television to cheer for them when they were away!   Not a fair-weather fan, she spent decades cooking monstrous meals for those who wanted to come to her house and enjoy watching the Falcons with her.  To visit her home on game day felt like a Super Bowl party!  She welcomed young and old Falcons’ fans to eat, fellowship, and cheer alongside her.  She had a knack for making everyone feel special and developed an endearing relationship as a mother, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, and girlfriend!  

Survivors who will forever cherish her memory are her daughter, Dr. Cherry A. Collier of Atlanta, GA; her sisters, Joanna Kirby Marsh and Carolyn Kirby Yancey of Atlanta, GA;brothers, Larry Kirby and Melvin Douglas Perkins (Felecia) of Atlanta, GA; God-daughter and niece, Marci Collier Overstreet (Alphonzo Jr.); nieces, Sharon Cherry, Kecia Yancey Bonds (Michael) and Candace Marsh of Atlanta, GA; and nephews, William Yancey and Kevin Yancey of Atlanta, GA, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and her favorite furry friend, Snoopy!

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mrs. Cherry E. Jackson, please visit our floral store.