Reba W. Jackson, doting grandmom

REBA W. JACKSON, onetime proprietor of the popular Century House Restaurant, in Penllyn, a 25-year employee of the former Gimbel Brothers and a doting mother and grandmother, died April 4. She was 92 and lived in the La Mott section of Cheltenham Township.

Reba was also a dedicated churchwoman. She was an active member of Salem Baptist Church, in Jenkintown, for 70 years.

Once, while working in Wildwood, she became friendly with Hazel Waters, sister of famed actress Ethel Waters, and a young man who worked in the fisheries at Cold Spring Harbor, in Cape May.

She and Hazel were buddies, but she and Donal E.C. Jackson III became more than friends. They married in 1942 just before Donal went off to fight in the Army in World War II.

After his discharge in 1946, they took over the Century House, a landmark eatery patronized by prominent local people looking for a hearty meal.

After they left the restaurant, Reba went to work for Gimbel Brothers in Philadelphia. When the company opened one of its first suburban stores in Cheltenham, she transferred there and remained until her retirement.

Reba was born in La Mott to John H. Ashton Sr. and Freeda Walls Ashton, who were deacon and deaconess emeritus of Salem Baptist. She graduated from Cheltenham High School in 1935.

When her two grandchildren came along, Reba found new sources for her boundless family love. She enjoyed watching Adrienne doing her dance/acrobatics, and made most of her costumes. She would take grandson, Chris, to downtown Philadelphia to shop and snack in Center City.

"She was particularly proud of the academic accomplishments of her family, and was very supportive of everything they did," her family said.

She also enjoyed visiting her husband's relatives in Atlanta and Macon, Ga., and became very close to the extended family.

After her retirement, Reba found pleasure in her church, her family and her home, where she was a devoted gardener.

She is survived by her son, Donal E.C. Jackson IV; a sister, Elayne Thompson; a brother, Harold "Tony" Ashton; and her two grandchildren.

Services: Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at Faith Community Church, 1200 Easton Road, Roslyn. Friends may call at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in Whitemarsh Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Reba Jackson Cancer/Arthritis Memorial Fund c/o Don Jackson, 24 Cobblestone Drive, Horsham PA 19044.