Toya Renee Jackson

Our Toya Renee Jackson was born September 10th, 1959, in Chicago, Illinois, through the union of Gilbert and Joyce Catherine (Gray) Jackson. She was the second of five children. She and her siblings were raised on the south side of Chicago after her parent’s separation. She was a part of a tight, close knit family, including aunts, uncles, and cousins, which only grew tighter, once her mother Joyce became ill. Toya, being one of the eldest children, and the oldest girl, would help her family by cooking, cleaning, working, and caring for her younger siblings.

She graduated from Englewood High School in 1977. Searching for a clearer and more directed path in life, she joined the United States Navy in 1982. Joining the military allowed her learn about computer processing systems and other IT related information. She was also able to travel to places, she never thought she would be able to go and it introduced her to different cities, different views on life, and people different backgrounds and cultures.

While in the United States Navy, she was stationed in Washington DC, where she had her daughter, Kiahna in 1983. She was also stationed in Florida, California, and Hawaii. She After spending 8 years active duty with the Navy, she was yearning to return home to be reunited with her mother and siblings. In 1990, she left Oahu, Hawaii and returned to the Midwest, settling in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In Milwaukee, she reunited with her mother, her brothers, sister, nieces and nephews. She was absolutely in love and crazy about her family, attempting to help whenever and however she could. In 1993 she gave birth to her second daughter, Kenesha.

She spent a total of 9 years in Milwaukee and in seeking a calmer, quiet area to raise her daughters, she relocated to Virginia, in 1999. Toya spent most of her career working in the IT field, as a Systems Administrator, and as a reservist in the US NAVY.

She enjoyed jogging everyday, reading. meditating, and traveling until she fell ill and was eventually diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2007, however, nothing brought her greater joy than family. She doted on her daughters and grandchildren.

Our beautiful and beloved queen, peacefully entered eternal sleep on Thursday, November 26th, 2020, enveloped by the embrace of her daughters, after a fierce 13 year battle with a brain tumor. We are grateful and thankful to have had her for 61 years, and that we were able to experience in all of her, what a mother, best friend, confidant, and a great person is.

Although she is gone, she leaves long lasting memories, and many pieces of herself, in the spirits and lives of her family: daughters, Kiahna Allen (Stephen) and Kenesha Jackson, grandsons, Troy Jones, Jaycen Jones, Stephen Allen, Aaron Allen, and grand daughter Leilani Allen, all of Virginia. She also leaves her memory to be cherished by her brothers, Gilbert (Zellia) Jackson, Orlandus (Nina) Jackson, Quenton (Corene) Littleton, and her sister Yolonda Jackson, all of Milwaukee, WI. As well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joyce Catherine Jackson and Gilbert Jackson, as well as, her beloved niece Nickeya Lee Ivory.

Services are private.