Ida Nell Jackson was born on September 24, 1931, in Drewry, AL, where she was raised by her loving parents, David “DC” Carroll and Mabel Crawford-Carroll. She was one of sixteen children, eleven girls and five boys, and the eldest of all her sisters. She attended B.I.A High School, along with her siblings in Monroeville, AL.
In her early adult years, Nell moved to Akron, Ohio where she raised seven wonderful girls and worked hard as a Nurse’s Aide for over 20 years, ending her services at Valleyview Nursing Home.
She was a devoted member of People’s Baptist Church and dedicated her life to nurturing others and spreading love to all who crossed her path. Not only did she devote her time and energy to raising her seven girls and fourteen grandchildren, but she quite frequently took care of nephews, nieces, and neighborhood kids. She had a special way of making all of her grandchildren feel as if they were her favorite. Everyone had a story of how “Granny”, as she was affectionately known, made them feel special, whether it was making pancakes for one, frying chicken for the other or whipping up her famous pound cake; there was always a competition to get to the first or last piece. On most days, you would find her at home sitting in her favorite chair, watching her favorite TV shows and spending countless hours on the phone, talking to her sisters.
Nell was preceded in death by her parents, DC Carroll and Mabel Crawford-Carroll; siblings, Joe, David, Jaybird, Flora, Bessie, Jessie, Nancy, Bobby Earl, Inez, and Mamielouquell.
She is lovingly remembered by her seven daughters, Debbie (Willie) Cooper, Janet (Ron) Robinson, Pam (Frankie) Walker, Kimberly (Greg) Clark, Tracy Jackson, Stacie Jackson, and Tammie Jackson; special nephew, Carl (San) Williams; her fourteen grandchildren, William, Andrew, Ron, Erika, Chanelle, Frankie, Tanesha, Cierra, Greg, Gerald, LaShawn, Retsyn, LaTerica and Darshoned; her siblings, Nettie (Artis) Williams, Mabel Franklin, Dorothy Lundy, Rose Carlisle, and Dorotha Zimmerman; fifteen great-grandchildren and a long host of nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives.