Doris Laverne Jackson-Hardwick was born on November 10, 1958, to Eddie Walter Jackson, Jr., and Lonnie B. Taylor Jackson. She grew up in McClellan County, Texas, where she was an active member of Pleasant Olive Missionary Baptist Church and a graduate of Waco High School. Doris attended Paul Quinn Historical Black College University in Dallas, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration (1981). Doris was initiated into Lambda Nu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on the campus of Paul Quinn College in Spring of 1977. She served as President of the Waco Alumnae Chapter 2000-2002.
She was employed at the Department of Veterans Affairs from 1983 until she retired in 2015. The same year, Doris earned a master’s degree in management and leadership (Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri). She was involved in the leadership of many civic organizations. For example, she served as president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) when she retired and was honored in “Who’s Who in America” in 2022 (p. 544). Perhaps most notably, Doris was a silver, lifetime member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), served as president of the local chapter in El Paso (2019-2022), and remained on its Executive Committee until her health failed in 2023. As a committed Christian, Doris served very willingly at Community Baptist Church in El Paso (2010-2017) and First Baptist Church of Horizon City (2017-2025).
After a prolonged illness, Doris passed into the loving arms of her Savior on Friday, June 27. She was proceeded in death by her loving parents, Eddie and Lonnie Jackson, and her sister, Portia Elaine Jackson. She leaves to mourn and cherish her memory: her husband, Minister John Hardwick of El Paso, Tx. Siblings Sara Pimpton (Al) of Aurora, Colorado and Ronald Jackson of Austin Tx.; aunts Dorothy Scruggs of Sacramento, California and Jessie Freeman of Tyle, Tx; nieces Phylicia Jackson of Waco, Tx., Dr. Roshon Jackson Kernessant (Napoleon) of Killeen, Tx. and Tyffine Jackson Verner (Rodney) of Harker Heights, Tx.; nephews Phillip Jackson of McGregor, Tx., William Jackson of Houston, Tx., and Ronald Jackson, Jr., of Waco, Tx. as well as a host of relatives and friends.
Services will be held on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at First Baptist Church of Horizon City, Texas. Located at 17018 Darington Rd. Horizon City, 79928. Hours of viewing will be from, 11:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. with a Prayer Service at 12:00 P.M. Interment will take place at Fort Bliss Cemetery, at 5200 Fred Wilson Ave, El Paso TX. 79906.
