Carol Ann Jackson

Carol Ann Jackson went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 11, 2026, after a short battle with cancer. She was born on November 28, 1962, in Abilene, Texas.

Carol was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend. More than anything, she was someone who took care of people. She had a way of noticing what was needed and making sure it was handled, often before anyone else even realized. Your life felt more steady, more organized, and more loved when Carol was part of it.

She grew up in Abilene and spent part of her childhood in Corpus Christi. She was one of four children born to Margie Meador and Jesse Jackson. The bond she shared with her siblings was strong and lasting. No matter where life took them, they always found their way back together, eventually even living on the same street and sharing life as close friends.

In 1980, Carol married Frank Stearns, and together they raised three children, Tiffany, Frank, and Kimberly. Being a mother was the most important calling of her life. She taught her children how to do hard things, how to stand up for what they believed, and how to celebrate life. She made the most of every moment - holiday traditions and decorations, Halloween parties, birthdays, or even a Tuesday afternoon trip to get nachos. 

In 2002, Carol met her soulmate and best friend, Joe Martin. They shared a love for early mornings, being the first one on the job site, drinking coffee, and planning out the day. 

Carol, never one to shy away from something she wanted, asked Joe for his phone number one morning. Before long, they went from planning out their days to planning their life together. 

 Through Joe, Carol gained three more children to love, Jacque, Jordan, and Janel, and she poured into them faithfully.

Carol had a particularly special relationship with Janel. She loved her deeply and helped raise her into the strong and independent young woman she is today. 

Carol worked hard throughout her life. She spent 17 years with Laborers Union Local 292, She served in leadership roles and fought for those she represented, always advocating for what was right.

After retiring, Carol and Joe moved to Texas, spending time on the coast before settling in Merkel. Retirement didn’t last long. Carol soon went back to work in human resources for MOR Drilling, a job she loved, especially because it allowed her to work alongside her cousin Bill.

Carol found great joy in being a grandmother. She loved spoiling her grandchildren, teaching them how to make banana pudding, crafting with them, playing jacks, listening to their stories, and making sure each one knew how deeply loved and valued they were.

She loved to cook, bake, craft, and create beautiful things, a gift passed down to her daughters and now to her granddaughters.

She was also a constant presence in the lives of her nieces and nephews. Aunt Carol was someone they could call for advice and encouragement.

 Music filled her life, and she always had the perfect song for the moment, spanning every genre and season of life. In her younger days she had a huge vinyl collection and as time and technology advanced, she moved onto iTunes and filled her playlist with all her favorites.

Carol was preceded in death by her father, Jesse Jackson; her brother, Jesse Jackson Jr.; and her beloved grandson, Bradyn Holdahl.

She is survived by her husband, Joe Martin; her mother, Margie Meador; her sister, Brenda Jackson; her brother, Michael Jackson and wife Beth; her children Tiffany Holdahl and husband Matt, Kimberly Vaughan and husband Stewart, and Frank Stearns Jr.; her stepchildren Jacqueline Martin, Jordan Martin and partner Hope, and Janel Martin; her granddaughters Charley, Jocelynn, and Miley and grandson Abram; along with many nieces, nephews, and extended family members she loved dearly.

A celebration of Carol’s life will be held on January 24 at 3:00 p.m. at the Mike Jackson family home. The service will be officiated by Pastor Matt Holdahl, with a meal to follow.

Carol’s life was marked by faithful love, steady strength, and devoted service. While her absence is deeply felt, her family rests in the hope of the Gospel. Carol trusted in Jesus Christ as her Savior, and because of that, her story does not end in death. Scripture reminds us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, and that because Jesus lives, those who belong to Him will live also. We grieve with hope, confident that Carol is now fully healed, fully restored, and in the presence of the Savior she loved, and we look forward to the day when all who are in Christ will be reunited again.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carol Ann Jackson, please visit our floral store.