Jacqueline (Jackie) Ann Blacknall Levingston
Jacqueline (Jackie) Ann Blacknall Levingston, age 76, received her heavenly crown and robe on December 30, 2021. She was born on August 2, 1945, in Roswell, New Mexico, to Jessie Blacknall Moore and Royse Marvin Kincherlow, but reared in Groesbeck, Texas after she became the adopted daughter of Roy and Lula Mae (Hogan) Blacknall. She attended Blacksheer and Washington Schools and graduated as Valedictorian from Washington High School in May of 1963. In 1968, after taking a year off from school, she graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a B.S. in Consumer Science Education (Home Economics).
Jackie began her 23-year political career in 1991 in her hometown as an Alderman. Representing the City of Groesbeck on various boards and committees led to numerous appointments and honors locally and statewide. Her first appointment came in 1991 when then Governor Ann Richards appointed her to serve on the Heart of Texas Regional Review Committee for CDBG Grants. Since that time, she formed the Groesbeck Economic Development Corporation (EDC) in 1997 and served as its President for many years; has served as Region 9 Texas Municipal League (TML) President, 1998; TML representative to the Southern Municipal Conference, 1999-2005; Texas Association of Black City Council Members, President, 2000, and Scholarship Committee Chair for many years; TML, President, 2002; Groesbeck Woman of the Year, 2002; Southern Municipal Conference Chair, 2003; Groesbeck Citizen of the Year, 2004; and was both the first female and the first African American elected Mayor of the City of Groesbeck serving from 2006-2014.
Her proudest accomplishments were the establishment of the TML Youth Advisory Councils throughout the state of Texas; founding of the Annual Girls Retreat held at Fort Parker State Park sponsored by the Grand High Court Heroines of Jericho; and completion of innumerous projects as councilperson and Mayor including: Safe Sidewalks to School, a new sports complex, Groesbeck City Park enhancements, building the Groesbeck Convention Center, remodeling and expanding the Maffett Memorial Library, establishing the Groesbeck Industrial Park, and recruiting the first three companies to relocate their headquarters to Groesbeck.
Outside of the political realm, she was deeply involved in the Groesbeck community. She has the seated Grand High Court Heroines of Jericho Texas Jurisdiction Grand Most Ancient Matron since 2000. Her masonic affiliations included the Grand Palace Grand High Court Heroines of Jericho Prince Hall Affiliated Texas Jurisdiction; Pride of Groesbeck Court #423; Youth Coordinator, Emeritus, for the Jackie Levingston Girls Camp Retreat GHCHOJ; General Grand Conference of Grand Courts Heroines of Jericho of the United States and the Bahamas Grand Most Ancient Matron; Norris Wright Cuney Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star Prince Hall Affiliated Texas Jurisdiction; and Ladies of the Circle of Perfection Prince Hall Affiliation Tennessee Jurisdiction; and Honorary Past Royal Grand Most Perfect Matron.
Jackie was a member of the Lone Star Baptist Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir and had served as the church financial secretary since 1990. She served on the Lone Star Cemetery Association Board, Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Committee (NAACP).
Her first and only professional position in public education started when she began her career with Groesbeck ISD as a teacher in 1978. She often stated that her real job came with the opportunity she had as Parenting Education and Pregnancy Coordinator for Groesbeck ISD where she mentored school-aged students who were pregnant or parenting and directed KidsKare Academy daycare center for their children. The program provided these teens an opportunity to complete their high school education and become productive citizens in our communities.
Jackie was survived by her daughters: Joselyn Anglin, Pearland, TX, and Janet Smith, Temple, TX; three bonus children: Gayla Jones, Houston, TX, Shanay Blacknall, Ennis, TX, and Warren Anglin, Groesbeck, TX; four sisters: Elizabeth Gault, Portland, OR, Brenda Jackson, Federal Way, WA, Francis Rhoden, Groesbeck, TX, and Arvella Strickland, LasVegas, NV; eight grandchildren; five greatgrandchildren; and two greatgreat-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Jessie Lawrence, Marvin Kincherlow, and Roy and Lula Mae Blacknall; five sisters: Doris Kerney, Dorothy Dell Brown, Susan Lawrence, Shirley Wheeler; and Charlotte Jefferson; four brothers: Edward (Brother) Moore Sr., Danny Oliver, William Oliver; and Royse Kincherlow.