Industry Veteran Ron Jackson Dies at 77

May 5, 2022  by Laurie Northington in Industry, Obituaries   

Jackson was born on September 24, 1944 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the son of Ray and Alice Jewell Jackson. He graduated from Arnold Elementary School in Cleveland and McCallie School in Chattanooga. He received his BBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory University. After college he served his country in the Air National Guard.

Jackson’s legacy is with his family business, Jackson Furniture Industries. In 1933 amidst the Great Depression, his parents started Jackson Furniture Company with the $30 in their pocket quickly expanding for decades with operations in states from coast to coast. Starting in 1961 Ron worked summers in the family- owned business, learning to make chairs and to “spit tacks”, a now lost art in furniture manufacturing. In 1966, he started to work full time in the office, and in 1975 he was named president of Jackson Furniture Company and Cleveland Chair Company.

Jackson eventually became CEO when the companies merged into Jackson Furniture Industries. He was instrumental in the development of the Pow’r Lounger for the company and industry. Ron’s two main passions throughout his career were to make quality mid-priced furniture and to create meaningful jobs for employees. He felt a great deal of responsibility for the well-being and financial security of the Jackson Furniture team. In 2012, Ron Jackson received his pin for 50 years of service to Jackson Furniture Industries; he continued to enjoy work for many more years.

The company deeply mourns the passing of their beloved friend. He was a courageous leader at JFI for over 50 years and a valiant warrior against his illness. Ron will be deeply missed, but his inspiration and love for JFI and its associates will endure. While his body failed him in his later years, he remained constantly engaged in the success of the business and his JFI family. He found so much joy in his work, family, and friends. 

Ron was exceptionally proud that JFI is a family business that manufactures a product in the USA that is affordable, comfortable and such a meaningful part of people's lives.    

He left to honor his memory his loving wife of 53 years, Carolyn Bridgers Jackson of Cleveland; son, Keith Jackson with wife, Amanda Thompson Jackson, and grandchildren, Norris Jackson and Jilliam Jackson, all of Chattanooga; sister, Virginia Matheny and husband Leo Matheny of Cleveland; brother, Roger Jackson of Cleveland, and niece and nephews, Amy Matheny of Chicago, Hank Matheny of Cleveland, Tom Jackson of Chattanooga and Mark Jackson with daughters, Phoebe Jackson and Imogene Jackson of San Angelo, Texas.