Over the past two weeks, people across the nation and around the world gathered in person and online to mourn and celebrate the life of iconic civil rights leader Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., who passed away on February 17, 2026, at the age of 84.
From community members in Chicago to international dignitaries, the outpouring of love reflected the immense impact Jackson had on generations of leaders, activists and ordinary citizens striving for justice.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941, Jackson rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential voices of the modern civil rights movement. A Baptist minister, two-time presidential candidate and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Jackson spent more than five decades advocating for equality, voting rights, economic empowerment and global human rights.
Surrounded by loved ones at his Chicago home at the time of his passing, Jackson’s death marked the end of an era in American activism. Yet, throughout the memorial services, family members and supporters highlighted that his mission continues through the institutions he built and the people he inspired.
One of the final public tributes took place during the Final Saturday Memorial Service at the Rainbow PUSH headquarters in Chicago.
On Friday, March 6, dignitaries from across the nation and around the world gathered to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson. Among those in attendance were former Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden; former Vice President Kamala Harris; former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; former First Lady Jill Biden; and Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia.
The services were also marked by powerful musical tributes from legendary performers including Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Hezekiah Walker, Marvin Sapp, Opal Staples, and Le’Andria Johnson.
Several prominent leaders delivered remarks, including Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network; Greg Mathis; James Reynolds, chairman and CEO of Loop Capital; and Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina Church in Chicago.
Additional speakers included Brandon Johnson, mayor of Chicago; J. B. Pritzker, governor of Illinois; Maxine Waters, U.S. congresswoman from California; and Tom Ricketts, owner of the Chicago Cubs. Reflections were also shared by Isiah Thomas, Sharon Brous, and others.
The homegoing service was led by officiants Charles Jenkins and James T. Meeks.
On Saturday, March 7, international dignitaries addressed a packed audience at the headquarters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Among them were Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa, and Félix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Other speakers included Janette C. Wilson, national director for PUSH Excel; Reginald Wayne Sharpe Jr., pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church; John W. Rogers Jr., CEO of Ariel Investments; Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League; and Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP.
Additional reflections were shared by actor and comedian Chris Tucker, Donald Parson, and members of the Jackson family, including Yusef Jackson, president and CEO of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition; Jonathan Jackson; Jacqueline Jackson; Ashley Jackson; and former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr..
Musical tributes during the memorial included performances by Wintley Phipps, Terisa Griffin, Stevie Wonder, the Rainbow PUSH Choir, Santita Jackson, and Kim Burrell. Musical direction was led by Fred Nelson, with choir director Darius Brooks.
Caring for a Father
Jackson’s daughter, Jacqueline “Jackie” Jackson, spoke about the honor and responsibility of helping care for her father during his final years.
“I had the distinct honor of feeding our father and providing several of the prescribed home therapies,” she shared. “While a dedicated team of caretakers tended to his growing needs, I want to personally thank those who walked with him through this journey with love and commitment.”
She acknowledged members of the caregiving team who supported the family, expressing gratitude for their compassion and loyalty during a difficult chapter in Jackson’s life.
Music, Memory and Courage
Jackson’s daughter Santita Jackson honored her father through music, delivering a heartfelt performance of the spiritual “Troubles of the World.” Her voice filled the sanctuary, drawing tears from many in attendance as she reflected on her father’s deep faith and resilience.
During an earlier interview with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation, Santita Jackson reflected on the extraordinary risks her father took during his historic presidential campaigns. She explained that he became one of the most threatened candidates in American political history, often speaking publicly about diversity, equity and justice while facing serious threats to his life.
Despite those dangers, she said, Jackson remained unwavering in his mission to build what he described as “a new America,” where people of all races and backgrounds could see themselves represented in the nation’s political and social future.
A Legacy Beyond Politics
Jackson’s son Jesse Jackson Jr. reminded those gathered that his father’s greatest contribution was not simply political—it was psychological.
“My father’s greatest contribution is not political,” he said. “It is psychological.”
He referenced the famous affirmation Jackson often repeated during rallies and speeches: “I am somebody.” The phrase, which resonated across generations, instilled a sense of dignity and possibility in communities that had long been marginalized.
Jackson Jr. explained that his father maintained relationships with political leaders not out of political loyalty, but because he believed marginalized communities needed representation in rooms where decisions were made.
“He spoke for the least of these—the disinherited, the dispossessed and the disrespected,” Jackson Jr. said. “His voice was prophetic, and it never sold us out as a people.”
A Spiritual Sendoff
Jackson’s son Jonathan Jackson delivered a deeply spiritual reflection, envisioning his father entering heaven among the great figures of the freedom struggle.
“I heard heaven say, ‘Rise Jesse, rise. You fought a good fight. You held on to your faith,’” he said.
He invoked the names of global freedom fighters, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks and Mahatma Gandhi, declaring that Jackson would now walk among those who shaped the global movement for justice.
“Tell them we have not forgotten the fight,” he said. “Tell them we will keep marching.”
Continuing the Mission
Yusef Jackson, chief operating officer of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, spoke about the responsibility of carrying forward his father’s work.
“We will put the good Reverend, my father, to rest today,” he said. “And we will honor him by building upon his work and taking up the challenge.”
He added that while Jackson would have enjoyed witnessing the gathering of allies and supporters, he would have insisted that the movement continue moving forward.
“Stay the course and carry on the struggle for justice,” he said. “That is what he would want.”
Remembering Where It All Began
Jackson’s daughter Ashley Jackson shared a deeply personal story about traveling with her father through the American South.
She recalled a road trip when she was 15 years old, when Jackson took her to Greenville, South Carolina, the city where he was born.
“He once said people see him running for the White House, but they don’t see the house he’s running from,” she said.
Standing outside the modest home where he was born, Jackson pointed to the window of the room where his mother gave birth to him.
“At 15, I nodded with teenage understanding,” Ashley said. “But years later I realized he was teaching me about beginnings—that even when they are shadowed, they still hold light.”
A Life of Relentless Work
Actor and comedian Chris Tucker shared a humorous but heartfelt story about traveling with Jackson early in his career. Tucker recalled unexpectedly boarding Jackson’s plane, thinking he would only speak with the reverend briefly before leaving.
Instead, the plane took off, and Tucker soon realized he had been swept into Jackson’s whirlwind schedule of traveling across the country to support grieving families.
“He worked harder than anyone I’ve ever seen,” Tucker said. “Everywhere he went, it was to help somebody.”
Tucker also remembered Jackson introducing him to then-President Bill Clinton during a visit to the White House.
“I’m just a kid from Decatur, Georgia,” Tucker said. “And Rev walked me right into the White House and introduced me to the president.”
During the encounter, Clinton joked with the actor about his popularity, even referencing his daughter, Chelsea Clinton in the popular film “Rush Hour”.
“He said in his Bill Clinton voice, ‘Chelsea loves you,’” Tucker recalled, laughing as the audience joined him.
For Tucker, the moment symbolized Jackson’s ability to open doors for others.
“That was Rev,” Tucker said. “He always made space for the next generation.”
Voices from the Movement
Civil rights leader Al Sharpton reflected on meeting Jackson as a teenager and becoming one of his youth directors in New York.
“He raised a generation of us to deal with activism,” Sharpton said. “There would not be a Democratic Party the way it is today had he not opened the doors.”
International leaders also honored Jackson’s legacy. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa praised his lifelong commitment to justice and human rights around the world.
“We honor him by carrying forward the values he lived for, justice, dignity and equality,” Ramaphosa said.
Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, also acknowledged the role Jackson’s wife played in sustaining the movement.
“This movement cannot be what it needs to be without a strong spouse,” he said, thanking Jacqueline Brown Jackson for her support and partnership.
Carrying the Dream Forward
Janette Wilson, a longtime advisor to Jackson and executive director at Rainbow PUSH, emphasized that the best way to honor him is to continue advocating for justice and economic opportunity.
She said Jackson remained deeply concerned about issues such as education, youth mental health and economic inequality in his final years.
“We’re in a global moment where peace is in jeopardy,” Wilson said. “When families are struggling and children are hungry, we must keep fighting for them.”
Keep Hope Alive
Throughout the service, one message echoed repeatedly—Jackson’s enduring call to action: Keep Hope Alive.
On Sunday, the spirit of the movement continued as Yusef Jackson joined the march in Selma.
Jackson marched alongside members of the Rainbow Coalition from across the country, including participants from Minnesota, Washington, D.C., and Illinois, as they honored the legacy of the historic movement that helped change America.
An Instagram post shared from the march read: “Selma reminds us that the march is not history alone—it is a call for every generation to keep standing up for our rights.”
For decades, Jackson reminded communities across America that dignity, equality and opportunity were not distant ideals but achievable realities. The most rewarding message I got out of this Memorial is that family matters, legacy lives on and that no matter what situation you’re in Rev. Jesse life responded as you are somebody and you can make it.
