Hillyer "Barney" Barnett Jackson, Jr.

The Reverend Hillyer Barnett Jackson, Jr., "Barney", lifelong resident of Oklahoma, died May 2, 2016, in Oklahoma City following an extended illness of COPD. Born March 23, 1934, in Oklahoma City, he was the firstborn of twin sons of H.B. Jackson and Roberta Banks Jackson. Being reared in Oklahoma City he attended Classen High School and New Mexico Military Institute, graduating with a High School degree in 1952 and a Junior College diploma in 1954. Father Jackson graduated from Oklahoma University with a degree in history in 1956, and from the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest with a Master of Theology Degree in 1959. Following ordination in the Episcopal Church in 1959, he served 51 years in the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma, beginning as Vicar of St. Marks, Hugo, and St. James, Antlers, to 1964. Following assignments he was Vicar of St. Mark's, Perry, and Church of the Ascension, Pawnee, from 1964-1966. He was commissioned a First Lieutenant as a Chaplain in the 45th Division National Guard until 1968. He was Assistant to the Rector and then Rector at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, from 1966 to 1980, with a year at Cambridge University, England, as a James Mills Fellow from the Diocese of Oklahoma in 1967-68. In 1980 he became Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church, Oklahoma City, and in 1987 he was appointed Vicar of Christ Memorial Episcopal Church, El Reno, where he remained until retirement in January of 2011. As Senior Priest in the Diocese of Oklahoma, Father Jackson has served on many of the committees and commissions of the Diocese. Three times a Deputy to General Convention and twice an Alternate, he has served as Dean of Senior High Youth Conference, Delegate to Provincial Synod, the Diocesan Board of Examining Chaplains and Chairman of that Board, Chair of the Division on Ministry Development, Diocesan Convention Planning Committee, Board of Trustees of St. Crispin's Conference Center, Board of Trustees of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, Board of Trustees of the National Council of Churches, longtime member of the Oklahoma Committee of Indian Ministries, and the Anglican/Roman Catholic Commission in the Diocese of Oklahoma and the Roman Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Father Jackson will be remembered for his sense of humor and great love and respect for the life and history of the Episcopal Church in Oklahoma, and of the history of the state of Oklahoma. Preceded in death by his parents and twin brother, Bob, he is survived by three nieces, Gayle Jackson Stringer and husband, Rodney, Sharon Jackson Sanchez and husband, Rubin, and Janet Jackson Spaulding and husband, Richard, eight first cousins and their families. Requiem Mass and Burial Office will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2016, at 11 AM at St. John's Episcopal Church, 5401 North Brookline, Oklahoma City, with committal at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the New Mexico Military Institute Alumni Association Fund, 101 West College Boulevard, Roswell, New Mexico, 88201 or the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, Austin, Texas.