There are people who give you life…
and then there are people who save it.

Pastor James and Mearlene Jackson,
you were my shield before I knew what warfare was.
My parents before I understood what absence meant.
My safe place when I needed one the most.

You didn’t just raise me—you stood in the gap for me.

When the world could’ve swallowed me whole, you wrapped me in prayer, discipline, love, and consistency. You showed up every day, not because it was easy, but because it was necessary. You didn’t ask questions. You didn’t hesitate. You stepped in and became everything I needed when life demanded parents and God sent grandparents instead.

Granddaddy, you covered me with wisdom, structure, and faith that didn’t flinch. You taught me that God wasn’t just someone you talked about on Sundays—He was someone you leaned on daily. Your voice, your sermons, your prayers still echo in my spirit. Even now, I hear you reminding me to stand tall, speak truth, and trust God when things don’t make sense.

Grandmother, you loved me with a strength that felt soft but held steel underneath. You nurtured me, protected me, corrected me, and prayed for me in ways I didn’t understand until adulthood. You taught me what it meant to love deeply, give freely, and still keep your boundaries firm. Your hands were gentle, but your prayers were fierce.

Together, you gave me stability when life felt uncertain.
You gave me faith before fear could take root.
You gave me home when I needed it most.

Losing you feels like losing the people who knew every version of me—before the titles, before the accomplishments, before the scars. You saw me when I was just a little girl trying to find her footing, and you believed in me long before I believed in myself.

Some people say grandparents are a bonus.

But you were not a bonus.

You were my foundation.

Thank you for being my parents when I needed parents.
Thank you for being my shield when I couldn’t protect myself.
Thank you for loving me in a way that shaped who I became.

I carry you with me—in my faith, my voice, my strength, and my purpose.
Your legacy didn’t end when you left this earth.
It lives in me.

Forever grateful.
Forever covered.
Forever your Anna-Girl, Kick, Baby Girl