Obituary for Brenda Jackson
Brenda Jackson, a longtime employee at JR Motorsports and mother of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller, passed away Monday following a battle with cancer. She was 65 years old.
Known for her wit, charisma and unparalleled ability to cut to the heart of any matter, Jackson became an instant favorite to her friends and colleagues at JR Motorsports when she joined the company as an accounting specialist in 2004. Her sarcastic musings and straightforward approach injected a brand of humor at JR Motorsports that became part of its fabric as it grew into a full-time NASCAR racing operation in 2006 and a championship-winning organization in 2014.
While Jackson’s career at JR Motorsports spanned 15 years, her presence in racing covered a lifetime. She was one of two daughters and four children to legendary NASCAR fabricator Robert Gee, a Virginia native who built winning cars for many celebrated racers. One of those was Dale Earnhardt, whom Brenda married in 1972. The couple had two children – Kelley and Dale Jr. – before a separation and house fire in the latter part of the decade forced Brenda back home to Virginia to start over.
While there she found love again. She married Willie Jackson, a firefighter from Norfolk, in 1985. Following Willie’s retirement in 2004, Brenda, Willie and step-daughter Meredith returned to North Carolina to begin work at JR Motorsports with Dale Jr. and Kelley.
Along with her passions for gardening, fashion, cooking and home decorating, Brenda was especially devoted to her children and grandchildren. During Dale Jr.’s well-documented battle with concussions, she was a staunch supporter of his decision to retire from full-time racing. She also was a tireless supporter of The Dale Jr. Foundation and other charitable efforts.
Jackson was preceded in death by her parents, Hazel May Overton Clark and Robert Edward Gee, and her sister Sandra Gee.
She is survived by her husband of 33 years, William M. Jackson Jr.; her children Dale Earnhardt Jr. (wife Amy), Kelley Earnhardt Miller (husband L.W.), step-daughter Meredith Davis (husband Jonathan); her grandchildren Karsyn Elledge (18), Kennedy Elledge (13), Wyatt Miller (7), Callahan Davis (16), Claudia Davis (13), and Isla Rose Earnhardt (11 months); her brothers Robert Gee (wife Beverly) and Jimmy Gee; and her beloved Pekingese dog, Scully.
A private gathering for family and close friends only will be held on Monday, April 29 from 4:30-7:00 PM with a Celebration of life at 7:00 PM at the Heritage House of Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, NC.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Piedmont Animal Rescue, 228 E Waterlynn Rd, Mooresville, NC 28117 or Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the family of Mrs. Jackson. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.
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MOORESVILLE, NC (Joe Marusak/The Charlotte Observer) - Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished dinner with his late mom’s side of the family on Wednesday night when they spread her ashes on “a beautiful hillside on our property as she had requested,” the retired NASCAR driver posted on Facebook.
An amazing sight then appeared in the sky.
“As we all were saying our goodbyes at the end of the evening there was a rainbow straight off the front door of the house,’ Earnhardt said. “What an amazing ending to a special day.”
Earnhardt grew up and lives in Mooresville.
His mom, Brenda Jackson, died on April 22 after battling cancer. She was 65.
Brenda Jackson, a longtime employee at JR Motorsports and mother of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller, passed away Monday following a battle with cancer. She was 65 years old.
Known for her wit, charisma and unparalleled ability to cut to the heart of any matter, Jackson became an instant favorite to her friends and colleagues at JR Motorsports when she joined the company as an accounting specialist in 2004. Her sarcastic musings and straightforward approach injected a brand of humor at JR Motorsports that became part of its fabric as it grew into a full-time NASCAR racing operation in 2006 and a championship-winning organization in 2014.
While Jackson’s career at JR Motorsports spanned 15 years, her presence in racing covered a lifetime. She was one of two daughters and four children to legendary NASCAR fabricator Robert Gee, a Virginia native who built winning cars for many celebrated racers. One of those was Dale Earnhardt, whom Brenda married in 1972. The couple had two children – Kelley and Dale Jr. – before a separation and house fire in the latter part of the decade forced Brenda back home to Virginia to start over.
While there she found love again. She married Willie Jackson, a firefighter from Norfolk, in 1985. Following Willie’s retirement in 2004, Brenda, Willie and step-daughter Meredith returned to North Carolina to begin work at JR Motorsports with Dale Jr. and Kelley.
Along with her passions for gardening, fashion, cooking and home decorating, Brenda was especially devoted to her children and grandchildren. During Dale Jr.’s well-documented battle with concussions, she was a staunch supporter of his decision to retire from full-time racing. She also was a tireless supporter of The Dale Jr. Foundation and other charitable efforts.
Jackson was preceded in death by her parents, Hazel May Overton Clark and Robert Edward Gee, and her sister Sandra Gee.
She is survived by her husband of 33 years, William M. Jackson Jr.; her children Dale Earnhardt Jr. (wife Amy), Kelley Earnhardt Miller (husband L.W.), step-daughter Meredith Davis (husband Jonathan); her grandchildren Karsyn Elledge (18), Kennedy Elledge (13), Wyatt Miller (7), Callahan Davis (16), Claudia Davis (13), and Isla Rose Earnhardt (11 months); her brothers Robert Gee (wife Beverly) and Jimmy Gee; and her beloved Pekingese dog, Scully.
A private gathering for family and close friends only will be held on Monday, April 29 from 4:30-7:00 PM with a Celebration of life at 7:00 PM at the Heritage House of Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, NC.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Piedmont Animal Rescue, 228 E Waterlynn Rd, Mooresville, NC 28117 or Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the family of Mrs. Jackson. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.
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MOORESVILLE, NC (Joe Marusak/The Charlotte Observer) - Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished dinner with his late mom’s side of the family on Wednesday night when they spread her ashes on “a beautiful hillside on our property as she had requested,” the retired NASCAR driver posted on Facebook.
An amazing sight then appeared in the sky.
“As we all were saying our goodbyes at the end of the evening there was a rainbow straight off the front door of the house,’ Earnhardt said. “What an amazing ending to a special day.”
Earnhardt grew up and lives in Mooresville.
His mom, Brenda Jackson, died on April 22 after battling cancer. She was 65.
Obituary for Brenda Jackson
Brenda Jackson, a longtime employee at JR Motorsports and mother of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller, passed away Monday following a battle with cancer. She was 65 years old.
Known for her wit, charisma and unparalleled ability to cut to the heart of any matter, Jackson became an instant favorite to her friends and colleagues at JR Motorsports when she joined the company as an accounting specialist in 2004. Her sarcastic musings and straightforward approach injected a brand of humor at JR Motorsports that became part of its fabric as it grew into a full-time NASCAR racing operation in 2006 and a championship-winning organization in 2014.
While Jackson’s career at JR Motorsports spanned 15 years, her presence in racing covered a lifetime. She was one of two daughters and four children to legendary NASCAR fabricator Robert Gee, a Virginia native who built winning cars for many celebrated racers. One of those was Dale Earnhardt, whom Brenda married in 1972. The couple had two children – Kelley and Dale Jr. – before a separation and house fire in the latter part of the decade forced Brenda back home to Virginia to start over.
While there she found love again. She married Willie Jackson, a firefighter from Norfolk, in 1985. Following Willie’s retirement in 2004, Brenda, Willie and step-daughter Meredith returned to North Carolina to begin work at JR Motorsports with Dale Jr. and Kelley.
Along with her passions for gardening, fashion, cooking and home decorating, Brenda was especially devoted to her children and grandchildren. During Dale Jr.’s well-documented battle with concussions, she was a staunch supporter of his decision to retire from full-time racing. She also was a tireless supporter of The Dale Jr. Foundation and other charitable efforts.
Jackson was preceded in death by her parents, Hazel May Overton Clark and Robert Edward Gee, and her sister Sandra Gee.
She is survived by her husband of 33 years, William M. Jackson Jr.; her children Dale Earnhardt Jr. (wife Amy), Kelley Earnhardt Miller (husband L.W.), step-daughter Meredith Davis (husband Jonathan); her grandchildren Karsyn Elledge (18), Kennedy Elledge (13), Wyatt Miller (7), Callahan Davis (16), Claudia Davis (13), and Isla Rose Earnhardt (11 months); her brothers Robert Gee (wife Beverly) and Jimmy Gee; and her beloved Pekingese dog, Scully.
A private gathering for family and close friends only will be held on Monday, April 29 from 4:30-7:00 PM with a Celebration of life at 7:00 PM at the Heritage House of Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, NC.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Piedmont Animal Rescue, 228 E Waterlynn Rd, Mooresville, NC 28117 or Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the family of Mrs. Jackson. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
MOORESVILLE, NC (Joe Marusak/The Charlotte Observer) - Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished dinner with his late mom’s side of the family on Wednesday night when they spread her ashes on “a beautiful hillside on our property as she had requested,” the retired NASCAR driver posted on Facebook.
An amazing sight then appeared in the sky.
“As we all were saying our goodbyes at the end of the evening there was a rainbow straight off the front door of the house,’ Earnhardt said. “What an amazing ending to a special day.”
Earnhardt grew up and lives in Mooresville.
His mom, Brenda Jackson, died on April 22 after battling cancer. She was 65.
Brenda Jackson, a longtime employee at JR Motorsports and mother of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller, passed away Monday following a battle with cancer. She was 65 years old.
Known for her wit, charisma and unparalleled ability to cut to the heart of any matter, Jackson became an instant favorite to her friends and colleagues at JR Motorsports when she joined the company as an accounting specialist in 2004. Her sarcastic musings and straightforward approach injected a brand of humor at JR Motorsports that became part of its fabric as it grew into a full-time NASCAR racing operation in 2006 and a championship-winning organization in 2014.
While Jackson’s career at JR Motorsports spanned 15 years, her presence in racing covered a lifetime. She was one of two daughters and four children to legendary NASCAR fabricator Robert Gee, a Virginia native who built winning cars for many celebrated racers. One of those was Dale Earnhardt, whom Brenda married in 1972. The couple had two children – Kelley and Dale Jr. – before a separation and house fire in the latter part of the decade forced Brenda back home to Virginia to start over.
While there she found love again. She married Willie Jackson, a firefighter from Norfolk, in 1985. Following Willie’s retirement in 2004, Brenda, Willie and step-daughter Meredith returned to North Carolina to begin work at JR Motorsports with Dale Jr. and Kelley.
Along with her passions for gardening, fashion, cooking and home decorating, Brenda was especially devoted to her children and grandchildren. During Dale Jr.’s well-documented battle with concussions, she was a staunch supporter of his decision to retire from full-time racing. She also was a tireless supporter of The Dale Jr. Foundation and other charitable efforts.
Jackson was preceded in death by her parents, Hazel May Overton Clark and Robert Edward Gee, and her sister Sandra Gee.
She is survived by her husband of 33 years, William M. Jackson Jr.; her children Dale Earnhardt Jr. (wife Amy), Kelley Earnhardt Miller (husband L.W.), step-daughter Meredith Davis (husband Jonathan); her grandchildren Karsyn Elledge (18), Kennedy Elledge (13), Wyatt Miller (7), Callahan Davis (16), Claudia Davis (13), and Isla Rose Earnhardt (11 months); her brothers Robert Gee (wife Beverly) and Jimmy Gee; and her beloved Pekingese dog, Scully.
A private gathering for family and close friends only will be held on Monday, April 29 from 4:30-7:00 PM with a Celebration of life at 7:00 PM at the Heritage House of Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, NC.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Piedmont Animal Rescue, 228 E Waterlynn Rd, Mooresville, NC 28117 or Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the family of Mrs. Jackson. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
MOORESVILLE, NC (Joe Marusak/The Charlotte Observer) - Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished dinner with his late mom’s side of the family on Wednesday night when they spread her ashes on “a beautiful hillside on our property as she had requested,” the retired NASCAR driver posted on Facebook.
An amazing sight then appeared in the sky.
“As we all were saying our goodbyes at the end of the evening there was a rainbow straight off the front door of the house,’ Earnhardt said. “What an amazing ending to a special day.”
Earnhardt grew up and lives in Mooresville.
His mom, Brenda Jackson, died on April 22 after battling cancer. She was 65.
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Records on Ancestry
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Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014
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U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current
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U.S., Newspapers.com™ Marriage Index, 1800s-2020
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Web: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Index, 1829-2015
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Virginia, U.S., Birth Records, 1912-2015, Delayed Birth Records, 1721-1920
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