August 21 1965 – March 13 2026

Arnold Allen Jackson, beloved son, father, brother, uncle, and friend, transitioned on March 13, 2026, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 60. Toni Morrison says that our lives are measured in language. If you were to ask friends or family what Arnold Jackson’s language was, they’d say “laughter.” Arnold knew how to make the mundane memorable, turning simple moments into quietly lasting bonds with those he loved.

Arnold, also affectionately called “Big A”, “A”, “Peanut”, “Uncle Arnold”, and “New York” was born on August 21, 1965 and raised in Harlem, New York. He spent his childhood enjoying New York City life, cooling off in open fire hydrants on hot summer days and picking up snacks from the corner store, always surrounded by family and friends. From working gigs as a kid with his siblings to buy a Mother’s Day gift, to playing the lottery in hopes of winning big enough to ‘take care of everyone’, Arnold’s ambitious spirit was rooted in love. After graduating high school in New York, he became a skilled laborer and excavator, affiliated with the well-known Local 731 in NYC. He faced a profound loss when his daughter Tanea Jackson returned to the angels in 1989. Despite this tragedy, he moved forward embracing life and sharing joy where he could. In 1997, he welcomed his cherished son, Alan Jackson. By the turn of the millennium, he traded the Giants for the Texans, when he moved to Houston, Texas, to join family, who had relocated a few years prior. Settling into life in Texas, he continued specialized training to refine his skills and advance his professional expertise, ultimately becoming a highly skilled Hydro Vac Truck Operator, a position he held with dedication until his passing.

Charismatic and outspoken, Arnold was true to himself and the life he chose to lead. He loved the social scene and cooking, and he loved treating those close to him to both good company and good food. To know Arnold was to know laughter and to appreciate the moments we often consider to be the most ordinary or routine. If you asked him, gas station coffee was just as good as Starbucks, if not better. Whether he was catching up on the phone, treating his brothers to coffee at the Shell gas station, sharing a beer with a cousin, manning the grill with friends, or teaching his nieces and nephews how to cook, he made the most of the time he shared with others. Arnold loved to cook, but his friends and family loved eating his food even more. From grilling brisket and BBQ to cooking up a hearty pasta, everyone agreed that his meals were served with the same skill as his humor. He will be remembered for showing us how to cherish the everyday and how to live unapologetically ourselves.

Arnold was preceded in death by his daughter, Tanea Jackson, and his stepfather, Eugene Yancey, with whom he is now reunited in rest.
Arnold is survived by his mother Dorothy Yancey, his father Melvin Jackson Sr., his siblings Melvin Jackson Jr., Tina Jackson-Crutchfield, Kevin Jackson, and Caleb Yancey, Karen Alexander, Elliott Yancey, his many nieces and nephews, his ‘brother-from-another-mother’ Daniel Armstrong, and his other close friends. His legacy continues through his son, Alan Jackson.

Friends are invited to a service on March 27 2026 at 11:00 AM at Jeter Memorial Funeral Home; 311 N. Friendswood Dr, Friendswood, TX 77546.