Article and info provided by Weir-MacCuish Funeral Home: 

Doris E. (Pope) Jackson, a longtime resident of Malden, passed away on Monday, April 2^nd, in the Royal Nursing Home in Falmouth, with her loving family by her side.  Doris was born and raised in Everett, and graduated from Everett High School with the Class of 1953. 

She then attended Portia Law School, which is now New England School of Law.  In 1953, Doris married her sweetheart, Herbert L. Jackson of Malden at a ceremony in Boston.  They settled down in Malden together to raise their family. They shared nearly 45 years together until Herbert’s passing in 1978 after a proud business and political career in the Malden community.

Doris had worked as an Administrator for the Mass Registry of Motor Vehicles office in Boston, retiring in 1977 at the age of 62. After her retirement from the RMV, she got her Real Estate License and specialized in featuring properties located on Martha’s Vineyard.

In addition, she was a current owner of the Shearer Cottage in Oak Bluffs on the island of Martha’s Vineyard.  She managed and operated the Bed and Breakfast, which was founded by her grandparents, Charles and Henrietta Shearer in 1903.  They catered to the African American community that faced discrimination at many other establishments at that time.  The family still owns and operates the establishment today.

She was also a skilled artist who over the years had taken many classes at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  Although she was skilled in many mediums, she mainly focused on working with oil and water colors.

She is survived by her children, Gail Loring-Jackson of Malden, Lee M. Van Allen of Oak Bluffs, and Herbert L. Jackson, Jr. of Oak Bluffs, her grandchildren, David Van Allen, Jr. Loren E. Van Allen, Eric P. Van Allen, Jessica Stieben, Jinarra Cantone and Gabriel Pappas, and her Great-Grandchildren, Camile, Kendall, Kennedi, Oren, Jaren Van Allen, and Jonathan Stieben.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert L. Jackson, her parents, Lincoln G. and Lily (Shearer) Pope, her sister Elizabeth White, and her brother Lincoln Pope Jr.

Funeral services will be held for Doris on Friday, April 6, 2012 in the Weir-MacCuish Golden Rule Funeral Home, 144 Salem St, Malden, at 12 Noon.  Interment to follow in Forest Dale Cemetery, Malden.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 5, 2012 from 4 to 8 PM.