Reaner B. Jackson

Reaner Lee Nora Bell Jackson was born in Vidalia, GA, September 7, 1928, to the late Simon J. Bell and Marion Garard Bell, one of eight children.

She graduated from Garfield High School and Actual Business College majoring in Secretarial Science in Akron, Ohio.  She relocated to Dayton in 1950 where she began her career in Civilian Personnel at Wright–Patterson AF Base; ultimately retiring in 1991 as an Employee Relations Specialist after 40 ½ years of service.

She joined Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in 1951. 

From the time she was a teen she prayed that God would send her the man she should marry.  In Dayton she met Milton Jackson Jr. who had recently been discharged from military service. After dating him for two weeks, the Holy Spirit told her Milton was the one.  She met him in June 1953 and they were married October 12, 1953.   From that union were born two children, Sherri and Kurt.

As a member of Bethel Baptist Church, she regularly attended Church School, Bible study and actively served in many ministries including: the Usher Board, Chapelier Ministry, Sanctuary Choir, Sisterhood, Missionary Society, Dramatic Guild and Culinary Ministry.  She also served as Bethel’s Key Woman for Church Women United for many years.

She served as a volunteer Administrative Assistant at Mercy Manor Sober Living from April 1992 until December 2023. She also served as a volunteer for a short period of time at The Dayton Art Institute and Mary Scott Nursing Home.

She was a member of Church Women United, Alpha Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. and the Dorothettes (card playing group).  She was an outstanding seamstress who also loved to travel and work puzzles.  She was always sending cards or making calls to church members, family and friends who were sick and shut in.  She always had a smile and a kind word to share. 

She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Milton Jackson, Jr; parents, Simon and Marion Bell, brothers and Sisters in Love – Kermit and Gwen Bell, Johnny and Mary Gabrieleen Bell, Ellis Bell, and James Bell; Sister Marion (Shang) Bell Austin; Brothers in Love Damascus Ballard and Benjamin Lindsey and Son in Love Eric Walton.            

She leaves to mourn her passing daughter -Sherri Jackson Walton, Son-Kurt (Shannon) Jackson, Granddaughters Vanessa Lyn and Valerie Lynette Walton and Great Granddog Tally Lynn Walton; Sisters Gladys Ballard and Josie Lindsey: Sisters in Love Betty Bell (James), Delores Jean Bell (Ellis) and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Her favorite song and lifelong motto :  “If I Can Help Somebody As I Pass  Along, Then My Living Will Not Be In Vain”.  

Funeral Service 11 am Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 401 S. Paul Laurence Dunbar St., Dayton, OH. Visitation 10 am- 11 am at which time family will receive friends. Interment Dayton National Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to House of Wheat Funeral Home.

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