Bryan Ray Jackson

Bryan Ray Jackson was born October 20, 1963 to Velma Mitchell Jackson and Billie Ray Jackson in Atlanta, Texas. He departed this life on July 21, 2009 at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, WA. Bryan graduated from Atlanta High School in Atlanta, TX in 1982. He attended Texarkana Community College before moving to the Pacific Northwest. He received his AA degree from Columbia Basin College (CBC), Pasco, WA in 1988. He then attended Eastern Washington University where he graduated in 1994 with a BA in English and Theatre Arts. Bryan received his Masters of Arts degree in Theatre Production from Central Washington University in 2008. Bryan professed a love of God and faith in Jesus Christ at an early age and united with the St. John Missionary Divine Baptist Church in Kildare, TX where he sang in the Youth Choir. He later united with the First Baptist Church in Atlanta, TX where he continued to use his musical talents to praise the Lord. Bryan expressed the desire to become a high school teacher as early as the 10th grade. He pursued this dream by working as a teacher's aide with special needs children while attending CBC. His career continued when he joined Spokane School District 81 in 1990 and for the last 14 years has taught English and Drama, several of those years as head of the Drama Department, at Lewis and Clark High School. He also taught one season of extracurricular Theatre Arts at Ferris High School. Bryan had a special love for his work. He was essentially able to do his hobby as a job. Bryan had a passion for singing and performing. He was active in numerous plays with Columbia Basin College Theatre department and The Spokane Civic Theatre. He was president of the Onyx Theatre Troupe where he also directed and performed in many of their productions. Bryan was the president of the Wsahington Alliance for Theatre Education and has organized the WATE festival in Cheney, WA for perfoming students for many years. Bryan leaves with loving memories, his mother Velma Jackson, Kennewick, WA; Best friend and companion of 13 years Jim Dahlem, Spokane, WA; Sister, Daphne (George) Block, Pasco, WA; Brothers, Edwin Jackson, Sacramento, CA, Todd Jackson, Kennewick, WA, and Andre' Jackson, Saginaw, MI; one niece, Tashene' (Brandon) Ray, Pasco, WA; nephews, Christopher Jackson Sr., Kennewick, WA, Jason Jackson, Richland, WA, and Terrance Jackson, Pasco, WA; great-nieces, Tiandra, Nevaeh, Chaunte'via, Alliviah and Jaliyah; great-nephews, Anthony and Christopher Jr.; several Uncles and Aunts and numerous other relatives and friends. Bryan was preceded in death by one brother, Cleophas Lynn Jackson, his father Billie R. Jackson and grandparents. Memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 25th, 2009 at 12:30 PM at the CHAPEL OF FLOWERS, RIPLINGER FUNERAL HOME, N 4305 DIVISION ST., SPOKANE, WA 99207, with Rev. Percy "Happy" Watkins officiating. In memory of Bryan, donations may be made to the Scott Brajcich Scholarship Fund, c/o Lewis & Clark High School, 521 W. 4th, Spokane, WA 99204.