Richard Dewitt Jackson

Dr. Richard Dewitt Jackson, 90, who practiced general surgery in Mount Airy for more than 25 years, died Friday, May 8, 2009. He was born September 6, 1919, in Erie, Pennsylvania, son of the late Dr. James Dewitt Jackson and Gertrude Amiden Jackson. He was a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College and Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. Upon graduation, he received the honor of being recognized as the first in his class in the field of surgery. He served two years in the Veteran's Administration Hospital just as WWII came to an end. He served a residency in general surgery at Grace-Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. After practicing surgery in West Virginia and Galax, he came to Mount Airy at the opening of Northern Hospital. Later, a wing of the surgical floor was dedicated to him with a name plague. He was a board certified member of the American College of Surgeons and a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Julia Anderson Jackson; three sons, Dr. David Dewitt Jackson and Dr. Thomas Richard Jackson, both of Mount Airy, and Roger Mitchell Jackson of Galax, VA; ten grandchildren, Richard Dewitt Jackson, II, Zachary David Jackson, Jennifer Wells Jackson, Jordan Emily Jackson, Bailey Elizabeth Jackson, Dr. Julianna Jackson Clark, Ashley Jackson Berta, Justin Jackson, Candace Jackson, John Mitchell Berta, and Ryan Emmaline; and a sister, Lois Jackson Watts of Durham. He was pre-deceased by his parents and a sister, Jean Jackson Davis. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home at www.woltzhospicehome.org There will be no formal funeral service.