Distinguished Pitzer College professor, social justice advocate, 50-year Pomona resident

Distinguished Professor Emerita of English and black studies at Pitzer College Agnes Moreland Jackson died April 8 after a long illness. She was 89 years old.

Ms. Jackson was a Pomona Unified School District Trustee for eight years, a longtime social justice community advocate and community leader, a charter member of the Pomona Valley Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and a Pomona resident for more than 50 years.

Her husband of 56 years, Reverend Harold Andrew Jackson, Jr., predeceased her on January 25, 2020.

Professor Jackson is survived by a brother, Darius Moreland; chosen daughters Barbara Ruth Arnwine, Esq., Dr. Lucretia Peebles and Margaret Smith; chosen son Dr. Melvin Merrill; and goddaughters Ashley (Barbee) Eddington and Nancy Norman.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Julian Timothy Peebles, Justin Daniel, Almiri Arnwine, Gabriel Oneal Smith; great grandchildren Issac Rene Marquez-Peebles, Joseph Khalil Peebles and Jacob Andre Tomas Peebles; great-great-grandchildren Caden James Marquez-Peebles and Braden William Marquez-Peebles; as well as a special cousin Reverend Glenn L. Jones and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

A memorial service to honor and celebrate her life will be planned for later this year. Interment will take place at Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier, California on Friday, April 17.

Those who wish to honor Ms. Jackson’s memory may make a donation to Pitzer College’s Agnes Moreland Jackson Diversity Program Endowment Fund at https://www.pitzer.edu/advancement/general-donation-form, (choose the “Agnes Moreland Jackson Diversity Program Endowed Fund” designation), or the Agnes Moreland Jackson Annual Scholarship at Pitzer College.

Donations may also be made via phone by calling (909) 621-8432, or by check payable to Stephen Tanenbaum, Pitzer College, Office of Advancement, Box A-102, 1050 N. Mills Ave., Claremont, CA 91711-6101.