The life of Lizzie Borden-Jackson was a life of sharing love. Lizzie transitioned on February 26, 2024, at the age of 66. She was born on September 24, 1957, in Goldsboro, NC to the late James Friday Borden and Queen Esther Borden. In 1958 her family sought better opportunities in the north and moved from Goldsboro, NC to Newburgh NY.

Lizzie also known affectionately in her youth as “Sis” graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in 1975. She was known by her high school friends Rhonda “Gale” Owens, Glenda Knight, Emily Frazier-Blue, Cathy Mincey, Karen Jackson “Bent”, Virginia Whitted, and Cynthia Graham “Tiny”, as one who would always instigate a fight, that her sister Esther or friends would finish.

She was amongst one of the first young Black women to start her career in the human resources division of WestPoint Military Academy, NY. She advised that she was proud to be known to help other young people initiate their careers at WestPoint. She valued hard work, being smart, and strong women. On January 25, 2024, from her sick bed with the assistance of her daughter Mya she made a call at 12:20am because she wanted to recount that one of her proudest moments was initiating the arrival and escort of Colonel Mildred Johnson to speak to the West Point cadets for Black history Month. She noted that when she walked with her on the campus of West Point and saw how everyone had to salute her as they walked by, because she outranked them, it made her heart swell with pride knowing she was related to a black woman that commanded so much power. She left West Point in the mid 90s to work in the medical field for Dr. Raval, who became a lifelong friend. In the late 90s she moved to Northern Virginia with the help of her good friend Cynthia Best, who she lived with until she established herself with an administrative position at Exxon Mobile, the largest United States-based oil and gas producing company, the eighth largest company in the world by revenue and the third largest in the US. She spoke proudly about the work she accomplished at Exxon. She was single handedly instrumental in building and organizing a structure to locate and understand the vast number of oil shipping vessels for the company, which led to her promotion on the international team. For approximately two years she loved working and teaching with young children at Minnieland Academy, a day care and education center. Circa 2006 she transitioned to Kaiser Permanente, where she was an administrative assistant until she retired on October 21, 2022.

Lizzie’s joy in life was spending time with her daughters DeNaya and Mya and all her grandchildren. Additionally, when her extended family and friends came to embrace her in mass, it was as if she was plugged into an electrical socket, because she would remarkably have renewed energy no matter her condition.

Lizzie was known to be a fashionista, a trait encouraged by her mother Queen Esther who taught her to be a lady and to dress impeccably. Hence, some of her favorite pass times were to shop, travel, and decorate. She was a cheer leader, took tap classes, played the clarinet, and was part of the school choir. Lizzie was always proud of her ability to Double-Dutch and she proclaimed herself as the winner of the cook off that she had with her sisters. She was known to love to give and receive gifts and during her last days she whispered, I love gifts.

Lizzie’s spiritual life with the Kingdom Hall began when she was working at West Point Military Academy. She studied with the Newburgh, NY congregation until she moved to Dale City, where she fellowshipped with the Woodbridge, Southbridge congregation until her transition. Her fellowship friends loved her dearly and knew her via her infectious smile and strong faith. She was known to be affectionate, caring, and prayerful. She would give everyone encouraging words even when she was in pain. The essence of Lizzie was to share her opinion and tell you how she believed it to be even if it was not what you wanted to hear. When asked to share her life moments she said, “Life is but a dream” and we can’t lean on what we would’ve, could’ve, should’ve did. But thinking back she would have planned better and loved harder. She said, “I love my daughters dearly and I am a proud grandmother.”

From her union with her ex-husband Freddie Jackson she had three children, Rashad Jackson (Pre-deceased), Denaya Stewart (Archie), and Mya Rae Borden. Her Children blessed her with 18 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Her son’s children Jordan Gibson, Treasure, Gumar, Messiah, Justice, Rakia, and Giovanni Jackson. Also, Denaya’s children Anton and Gianni Johnson, Queen Destiny and Dymond Taylor, Tysha Stewart, Isaiah Bryant, Archie Stewart, Winter Bryant, Brooklyn, Bella, and Rashad Stewart.

In addition to her children and grandchildren she is survived by two sisters, Emma Johnson (Allen) of Newburgh, NY, Debra Borden-White (Larry) of Newburgh, NY; Herman Wilson of Poughkeepsie, NY, Thomas Earl Wilson of Beacon, NY, Marshall Wilson of Clarksville, TN and John R. Borden, (Cassandra) of Newburgh, NY along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and special loved ones. She is predeceased by her Father James Friday Borden (April 1996), her mother, Queen Esther Borden (December 2009), brothers James Curl Borden “Jimmy” (1970), James Earl Borden “Cooder Pig” (1999), Jerry D. Wilson (February 2018), and Sister Esther Collins (March 2018).

The memorial service will commence at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2024. The location will be The Newburgh Armory, South Williams Street, Newburgh, NY 12550.   

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