Passing of Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
For Immediate Release
February 17, 2026
www.paine.edu – 706.821.8323
Statement from Paine College on the Passing of the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
Paine College joins the nation and the global community in mourning the passing of the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.—a towering moral voice, civil rights champion, and tireless advocate for justice, dignity, and human possibility. Reverend Jackson’s life embodied the prophetic tradition of the Black Church and the unfinished struggle for freedom that has shaped America’s conscience. He was the epitome of the best of our two sacred institutions: the Black Church and the Black College, as a graduate of North Carolina A & T University in Greensboro, North Carolina.
For generations of students, clergy, and civic leaders, Reverend Jackson stood as a living bridge between the movement era and the ongoing work of social transformation. From the Civil Rights and Poor Peoples’ campaigns of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the founding of Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition, his ministry fused faith, public witness, and political courage in pursuit of what Dr. King called the Beloved Community. His voice called the nation to remember the poor, the marginalized, and the forgotten—and to believe, even in the face of despair, that justice is still possible.
Paine College was honored to welcome Reverend Jackson to our campus several times, the last time on October 19, 2019, when he shared words of encouragement, moral clarity, and hope with our students and the broader Augusta community. His presence that day was both historic and pastoral. He spoke not only as a civil rights icon, but as a spiritual elder—reminding our students that their education must be joined to purpose, their ambition to service, and their success to the uplift of others. Those who gathered in his presence felt the enduring power of a life poured out in the struggle for freedom.
Personally, I remember Reverend Jackson as a figure of extraordinary resolve and deep humanity—at once prophetic and pastoral, uncompromising in justice yet generous in spirit. The first vote I cast upon becoming eligible was for Jesse Jackson for President of the United States in 1984. I remember being inspired by his voice and vision for an inclusive and just nation. When I lived in Chicago, I had several meaningful interactions with Rev. Jackson. His witness affirmed that leadership grounded in faith can still bend history toward righteousness. His life’s work continues to challenge institutions like Paine College to educate graduates who are intellectually prepared, spiritually grounded, and socially committed to transforming their communities.
Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. was one of the last living titans of the modern Civil Rights Movement. As we grieve this profound loss, we also give thanks for a life that helped expand the boundaries of democracy and human dignity. Reverend Jackson now joins the great cloud of witnesses whose labor and sacrifice made our present possible. May we honor his legacy not only in memory, but in movement—continuing the work of justice, equality, and hope for generations yet to come.
On behalf of the Paine College community, we extend our deepest prayers and condolences to Mrs. Jacqueline Jackson, the Jackson family, and all who were touched by his remarkable life and ministry.
“Keep hope alive.”
Dr. Lester A. McCorn
President, Paine College
About Paine College
Paine College, affiliated with the United Methodist Church and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, is a private HBCU that offers a liberal arts education. Accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), Paine is located in the heart of Augusta, Geogia.