On Saturday, the children of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson gathered at the Chicago headquarters of Rainbow PUSH, the social justice organization he founded, to deliver heartfelt and deeply personal eulogies at his private homegoing services. The intimate ceremony offered a rare glimpse into the life of the civil rights icon not just as a public figure, but as a devoted father and family man. Each of Jackson’s six children spoke or performed, sharing memories that illuminated the man behind the legacy.
The service opened with a stirring musical tribute by Jackson’s daughter Santita, who performed “My Tribute (To God Be The Glory),” a gospel classic by Andrae Crouch. This set the tone for a ceremony that was as much about love and family as it was about commemoration.
While the previous day’s public memorial, titled “The People’s Celebration,” focused heavily on Jackson’s monumental contributions to civil rights, political activism, and cultural change—with remarks from former U.S. presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Bill Clinton—the children’s eulogies on Saturday took a more personal approach. They painted a picture of a father who lived his values deeply and lovingly within his family.
Yusuf Jackson Sr., one of Jesse Jackson’s sons, reflected on the principles his father instilled in them from a young age. “He taught us that every child deserves a strong foundation, a loving mother and a family, a welcoming church, a close-knit neighborhood with resources and opportunity,” Yusuf said. “He lived that belief.” He also spoke about his father’s uplifting spirit, even during illness: “It was hard to visit my father, even in his illness, and not leave feeling better about yourself.”
U.S. Representative Jonathan Jackson offered a poignant reflection on the complexities of growing up as the son of a nationally known activist. As a child, he admitted, he felt embarrassed by his father’s relentless protests and boycotts, unable to fully grasp the significance of the causes Jackson championed, such as economic justice and the fight against apartheid in South Africa. “I didn’t understand. I’m not going to lie to you. It was a great source of pain for me to hear people talk about my father,” Jonathan confessed. Yet, with maturity came pride and appreciation. “I’m proud to say that my father was my friend, my hero, my pastor, my confidant, my biggest cheerleader, my political advisor,” he said. “When I was at my worst, I saw a man at his best, and I’m proud to call him my father.”
Ashley Jackson, the youngest daughter, shared a touching memory of a road trip she took with her father through the American South, visiting the house where he was born in South Carolina. The journey was more than a family bonding experience—it was a living history lesson on the Civil Rights Movement and the personal struggles that shaped her father’s life and mission. “Today, I am standing here as his daughter, the baby of the family, bereft and amazed and so deeply grateful that enough of his love was poured into me across 26 years that I know I will never run out,” Ashley said. “Dad, I love you in every lifetime, and until we meet again, I’ll find you in the rainbows.”
Dr. Jaqueline Jackson II, an author and peace activist, spoke about the nurturing side of her father, who helped her overcome challenges in school. She recounted how he supported her learning, reading, writing, and math, and recognized her introverted nature both at church and at home. Jaqueline described their close relationship, which endured even as his health declined, and how she helped her mother care for him during his final days. “I share all this with you, in closing, to highlight my own awareness of my father’s impact on me as a child,” she said. “When he lay his own hand to write and coach my own relationship beyond my interior life, into the larger exterior world... our roles had indeed reversed, and all that he taught me as a child were the tools that I used to help him.” She concluded with a heartfelt tribute: “In the end, it came down not to the tools but simply the love for someone whose love could never be repaid. God bless you, Daddy.”
Jesse Jackson Jr., himself a former congressman, spoke through tears as he recounted the history of his parents’ meeting over 60 years ago and