Timothy Jackson was born May 20, 1942 to Myrtle and Booker T. Jackson. He was the oldest of four children, two brothers, Edward and Samuel, and one sister, Theresa. He grew up in the projects. His father worked three jobs to get them out of the projects. He went to school at a mission church school, St. Benedict's in Toledo, Ohio. Because his college prospects seemed so slim, he chose to go to a vocational high school, Macomber.

He studied repair of small, electrical appliances, radios, fans, etc. But he also discovered he was good at wrestling. He wasn't big, only 120 pounds, but he excelled. He won a wrestling scholarship to Toledo University.

While in college, a friend of his asked him if he wanted to go on a blind date with a friend of the girl he was dating, and so he met Harriet. Now, because she lived in Springfield, Ohio, and he lived in Toledo, they decided to date for the summer only (ha ha). Sixty-three years later, they celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on August 31, 2024.

Tim worked at Toledo Edison for five years before he decided to look for something else. Then he got the job at IBM, which we all know means, “I've Been Moved.” After five years as a customer engineer, which Harriet described as being a computer doctor, black bag and beeper, Tim became part of a pilot program at IBM. They looked for young people with college education, but had not graduated with a degree. The program took him to Boca Raton, so he moved his family, which now included four children, Timothy, Paul, David and Disa, to Florida, where Tim worked with a team that developed the first personal computers.

The boys entered school in Florida, and one day, one of Paul's classmates wore his jersey from a youth athletic league. Paul immediately told his father, “I don't know what that is, but I want to play it.” Thus, the family was introduced to soccer.

Tim became the assistant coach to David's under ten soccer team. This team won an international championship. Pele', the soccer star, was looking for a youth soccer team to participate in “Pele's Soccer Tips” to be televised nationwide, and chose David's team.

Tim also refereed soccer, youth, high school, and semi-professional, until he had a heart attack at age 70.

After 13 years in Florida, Tim moved his family to North Carolina. After he retired from IBM, Tim and Harriet ran a laundry service for 30 years.

Tim was very proud of his children and grandchildren and all they accomplished. His family is his legacy. He is survived by his wife, Harriet, sons Timothy, Paul (and his wife, Yiioshi) and David (and his wife, Tara), and daughter Disa, and seven grandchildren, Tasaan, Tehya (and her husband, Khi), Aaliyah, Samiyah, Daniel, Sydney, and Dylan, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.