Lincoln-Jackson student talks 100th reunion

Editor's note: This is one in a continuing series of interviews with local officials and community leaders. Lucio Marin is helping coordinate a celebration of the Lincoln Jackson school's 100th birthday later this month.

Q: Tell us about Celebration and Closure: A Century of Excellence.

A: To commemorate this momentous occasion, we have planned a celebration to take place at iAcademy (the current name for Lincoln Jackson) on Aug. 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Please come out and take part in the celebration. Let's send L.J. off with a bang.

Q: What is your connection to Lincoln-Jackson?

A: I attended Lincoln Jackson from 1991 to 1998. The school was integrated after the Supreme Court's desegregation decision in 1954.

Not only did I attend Lincoln Jackson, I grew up a block away, so Lincoln Jackson was more than a school for me.

Playing basketball on the court and football on the field were very fond memories for me. It was also a place where my fellow classmates became lifelong friends.

Q: What can you tell us about the history of the school? When was it built? What has it been used for these past 100 years?

A: Lincoln Jackson school had its beginning in 1924 in the Patterson Chapel Baptist Church. The school started with only two students, which grew to over 160 students over the years.

The school has served several purposes such as an elementary school, high school, Arts Academy, Family Center and now iAcademy.

Q: Ida Jackson was the school's namesake – with Abraham Lincoln -- who died in 1960. What have you been told about her through the years?

A: Mrs. Ida Jackson came to Clovis from Texas. From what I was told she was held in high regards by her peers, not only for her academic teachings, but for her role in growing the school into what it is now so much that when a name was sought for the school, they included her last name because of the high esteem and respect the students had for Mrs. Jackson.

Q: Bestella Gardner was the school's secretary for 30 years. What can you share about her?

A: To say the least, Mrs. Gardner was a very impactful person throughout all of my school years. She taught life lessons.

Mrs. Gardner was the heartbeat of the school. Her caring and charismatic approach to everyone was invigorating. It warms my heart to this day when I see her.

There's not enough time in the day to explain how wonderful Mrs. Gardner is. She turned the school into a community, bringing everyone together and putting her heart and soul into everything she did for Lincoln Jackson. She is a true inspiration, and I will be forever grateful to have her in my life.

Q: Do you have a favorite memory or two about Lincoln-Jackson? Did you ever get in trouble there? 

A: The best memory I have at Lincoln Jackson was when I was given a bike from Grandma and Grandpa Heart every year. They would give them out to students who did well in the Character Counts Program.

I also have fond memories of all the programs I participated in like Jump Rope for Heart, talent shows and of course field day.

I may have gotten in trouble once or twice for a couple of playground scraps, but overall, I was a good student.

Q: Do you know what's going to happen to the building? What do you think should happen to the building?

A: As far as I know, it will be decommissioned and boarded up. It is a historical building, so it won't be torn down.

I would love to see at least some of the building like the gym and the playground utilized in some way, maybe a boys and girls club or anything that can give the kids a positive outlet in the neighborhood and surrounding area.

- Compiled by Landry Sena, The Staff of the News