Who is Daddy’s Little Girl?
My mother and father had me when they were teenagers, where they both attended Jean Ribault Senior High School and from graduation my father joined the military, where he retired from the United States Army and United States Marines and at the time of his death, he attended University of Florida. My mother was apart of the ROTC, she also received a Basketball Scholarship, however she decided to not attend college and focus on building a career and being a full time mother.
My mother and grandparents, Both paternal & maternal, all had a hand in raising me. I was raised here in Jacksonville, where I attended several elementary schools on the Northside. On July 12, 1988; my father was murdered~ 10 days before my 10th birthday and three days after my grandfather (A Local Longshoreman & United States Veteran) died from Lung Cancer.
In 1990, my family relocated to Atlantic Beach, in an attempt to get me away from the violence and to receive a better quality of education. While experiencing this new environment, I made good choice & terrible choices. And on October 21, 1995, I was rape by someone I attended school with, however that didn’t stop me, and from there I graduated from Duncan U. Fletcher, 1996. And despite all of these obstacles, I still graduated one year early, and attended college.
After graduation, my husband , Rev. Dr. Percy Jackson, Jr. and I married on September 7, 1996; and I gave birth to my first child, Summer Shani’ on February 17, 1997; Percy III came on April 2, 1998; Throughout the next few years, my husband and I miscarried three times, but God open my womb again, and we gave birth to Autumn Renee’ on October 23, 2002 and Ja’Lon-Joshua Percy on September 29, 2004;
An finally in 2005, I attended a Candle Light Vigil for Victims Rights Week, to where I was finally able to get closure on the pain of my father’s murder, I was able to speak with other victims, and unfortunately they have never found their love ones murderer, and here at least I had some closure to see the man who murdered my father serve time for his death. It wasn’t what I felt it should have been, but some justice was served.
There have been so many moments to where I have just cried until my eyes were swollen due to the pain, and times to where I had hatred in my heart for the family member that murdered my father, but what kind of Christian would I be to hate him and not show him love? So, instead of hating the person, I now show genuine love in spite of the dynamics of our current family situation.
During this time of what seemed to be a tragedy, no one ever sat me down to hear how this affected me and to ensure that I did not allow this to hinder my plans and goals in life. I must say that I have not turned out too bad, there have been moments to where I broke rules and got myself into trouble, however I didn’t stay there, I got my head together, because I chose to NOT become a statistic nor to allow my past to dictate my future!
Throughout my life it has been very difficult in coping with the struggles/issues I suffered growing up as young girl, and now a woman. I have had to face many voids in my life, but I am Still HERE! In spite of all that has happened throughout my life, I have the testimony of saying look at me now. With the Grace and Favor of God, I am a Wife & Mother, Daughter & Sister. I founded Simply Blessed In Christ Marketing & Production, I am currently in college for my B.A. In Elementary Education, and I stand beside my husband, Rev. Dr. Percy Jackson, Jr., Senior Pastor Of The RHEMA Church of Jacksonville. And now I have this organization, Daddy’s Little Girl Foundation.
My life is great! I love the good and the bad, because without all of it, I wouldn’t be able to say, I Made It. It doesn’t matter what your background is, who your parents are or were, nor does it matter what you have endured, if you trust God and have faith, and believe that all things will work out for the Good, and that it’s all a test to make you stronger & wiser.
So, as I borrow the words from Dr. Marvin Sapp, my testimony is Simply… I Never Would Have Made It!
