Strong foundation: The Jackson family
PROGRESS 2018— Red Bay’s Rhett and Hannah Jackson got to know each other because of their children, meeting at places like Chuck E. Cheese and Bay Tree Park and connecting during milestones like kindergarten registration. They married in 2011 in the Great Smoky Mountains, surrounded by their children: Mary-Elizabeth Moore, 18, Kyser Jackson, 15, Coby Jackson, 14, Sam Moore, 14, Jean-Marie Moore, 12, and Nate Moore, 11.
The eight of them rely on each other for support throughout life’s challenges.
“It’s important to have a strong foundation, a bedrock to stand on, and that’s what family is,” Mary-Elizabeth said. Hannah added, “We’re dedicated to each other, when it comes down to it … and we’ve all needed a lot of support.”
Rhett and Hannah were both born and raised in Red Bay. He works at the Gates Corporation in Red Bay, and she operates an in-home daycare.
When it comes to their children’s activities, each has his or her own story to tell:
Nate is a sixth-grader at Red Bay, and he enjoys basketball and video games. A favorite hobby is meteorology. He said when he grows up, he’d like to pursue an HVAC certification.
Seventh-grader Jean-Marie plays the flute in the marching band. She’s also on the Scholars Bowl team, and her favorite classroom subjects are civics and family and consumer sciences. When she grows up, she said she wants to be a nurse. She loves shopping and enjoys her pet rabbit.
Sam is an eighth-grader at Red Bay. His interests range from animals, especially poultry, to gardening and cooking. “I grow cucumber, zucchini, radishes, squash, peppers, beets, corn and greens,” Sam said. “This will be my second year to have a garden. My grandfather gardened, and I would go over there to help him out, and I’ve always liked having a little garden in the backyard.” In the kitchen, “he looks up recipes he wants to try and tries them out on us,” Hannah said. “He’s a fantastic cook.” He is also involved in FFA. His career aim is electrician.
Coby is also an eighth-grader at Red Bay. He enjoys basketball and hunting and has plans to enter the medical field one day. Kyser is a freshman at RBHS. He plays basketball and aims to go into the medical field or perhaps work as an athletic trainer.
Mary-Elizabeth is a senior at Red Bay High School. She is active in FFA (secretary), Leo Club and Franklin County 4-H. She is president of the emerging RBHS drama club, and the performing arts are where her heart truly lies. She has plans to attend Itawamba Community College following high school graduation and hopes to one day become a dramatic arts teacher.
Mary-Elizabeth has put her drama talents to work as an actress with the Bay Tree Council for the Performing Arts. She is preparing for her 13th show at the Weatherford Center.
She has a number of other hobbies and interests, including painting, drawing, reading, singing in the choir at First United Methodist Church and horse racing, which she loves to watch and research. She was also a participant in the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Junior Leadership program in her junior year.
Mary-Elizabeth is the most passionate participant in the BTCPA, but almost every member of the Jackson/Moore family has enjoyed a moment in the spotlight. Rhett has performed in six shows, and Hannah has performed in five. Coby and Sam have been in one each, and Jean-Marie and Nate have been in three and two respectively.
“When Mary-Elizabeth was younger, I did it to be with her,” Rhett said. Mary-Elizabeth said he is a really good character actor. “They appreciate him,” she said. “They have recruited him specifically for certain parts.”
Hannah said she loves seeing what the BTCPA has done for Mary-Elizabeth. “I’m just so appreciative that it’s here for her because it’s given her an outlet she would not have otherwise had,” Hannah said. “She literally comes alive when it’s play season. It just lights up her face … It means so much to me because of what it’s done for her.”
The family also embraces the performing arts in their church. Each year they perform scenes from the story of Christ’s birth in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Christmas Eve, during come-and-go communion, they present a live nativity. “That has become really special to the church members,” Hannah said. “I have a Mary, Joseph, wise men, shepherds and an angel, so it works out really well – and I’m the coordinator.” They also performed a stick drama on Easter a few years ago.
Church is an important part of their family life. In addition to the seasonal performances, the family has taken on the Christmas Bazaar – Hannah and Jean-Marie are revitalizing this church tradition – and Hannah serves as the nursery director.
Their family is characterized, they all agreed, by plenty of good-natured teasing.
“You have to take everything as a joke,” Kyser said. When push comes to shove, however, “when something happens, we’ve got everybody’s back.” Jean-Marie agreed, “Even though we make fun of each other, we still support each other through all of it.”
Hannah said although plenty of arguing and picking is to be expected among six children, she has also witness her children stand up for each other, without fail. “When it comes down to it, they will go to the mat for each other,” she said. “They protect each other, and while they act like they can’t stand each other sometimes, I’ve seen it: They love each other.”
