Mrs. Jacqueline: A Lasting Legacy of Community and Hope
Jacqueline is one of the trailblazers of the Lynwood Park community and is carrying out the legacy of her late parents Bishop Cornelius and Margaret. They migrated to Lynwood Park, one the oldest Black communities in Georgia, in the late 1940s with the dream to build a home of their own and raise their family of eight. In 1947 their dream came true when they purchased their first plot of land with the help of the community. The home was not just for their family, but many families were blessed through their generosity of serving others through feeding the community out of their kitchen. no person, no child was left hungry, everybody ate and ate well, Bishop Cornelius fed a multitude of people and was always remembered as a man of
great integrity. In the late 1950s the house caught on fire and burned to the ground but because of the love and impact of the community, they all came back together and rebuilt the house with their very own hands…brick by brick with love, sweat and tears…everyone pitched in with their gifts and talents so that a family of eight was not left without a home.
Jacqueline, affectionately known as Jackie, is the third child out of 6. Jacqueline graduated from Cross Keys High School in 1971 and is presently an active member of the Lynwood Park Foundation. She participates in the annual Lynwood Park Day every year in May. She serves faithfully in her brother’s church in Buckhead Georgia from the foundation of their father’s church.
She became the care giver to her parents in the early 2000s when their health began to shift. Consequently, she moved back into the family home, which stands today in the same location. This home is a museum of memories filled with laughter and love that has withstood the test of time over the last 60+ years. As a previous stroke survivor and a breast cancer thriver, Jackie‘s own health challenges and financial restrictions have restricted her ability to sustain and maintain this home, one of the 400+ originals of the community. It represents so many DeKalb families that’ve worked hard to build a legacy for their families.
View Current Projects page for photos and progress.