The West Columbia City Council approved a resolution at its meeting Tuesday in honor of Dr. Charles Jackson, who has been pastor of Brookland Baptist Church For 50 years.

“You can’t put into words all that Dr. Jackson has done,” said Mayor Tem Miles.

Councilman Mickey Pringle said Jackson has always been an integral part of the community and he will continue to improve it.

Below is a copy of the resolution

Resolution Recognizing Dr. Charles B. Jackson, Sr. on the Celebration of His 50th Year as Pastor of Brookland Baptist Church, West Columbia

WHEREAS, Dr. Charles B. Jackson, Sr. was born on July 16, 1952 in West Columbia, South Carolina, to the late Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Ezella Rumph Jackson. Dr. Jackson celebrated his 50th year as Pastor of Brookland Baptist Church on February 7, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Charles B. Jackson, Sr. attended public schools in Lexington School District Two and graduated with honors in 1970 from Brookland Cayce High School. In 1974, he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from Benedict College. In 1977, Dr. Jackson graduated with honors from Morehouse School of Religion of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia with his Master of Divinity Degree. He received the Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina in 1985 and from Benedict College in 2007. In 2018, Dr. Jackson received a Doctor of Divinity from Columbia International University and a Doctor of Public Service from the University of South Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Charles B. Jackson, Sr. is married to Robin Hoefer Jackson and has 2 children and 6 grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Charles B. Jackson, Sr. began preaching at the age of nine; was licensed at the age of ten; ordained at the age of twelve, and became the Pastor at Brookland Baptist Church at the age of eighteen; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Charles B. Jackson, Sr. has mentored and trained 18 sons, 1 daughter, and a total of 77 ministers; and

WHEREAS, under the leadership of Dr. Charles B. Jackson, Sr., Brookland Baptist has over 60 ministries, over 190 employees, a full-service Federal Credit Union, the Brookland Foundation, the Brookland Center for Community Economic Change, the Brookland-West Columbia Community Housing Development Corporation, the Brookland Community Pediatric Center with Eau Claire Cooperative, and Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center which recently was sealed as the first historically segregated African American school to receive a state marker in Lexington County. Dr. Jackson led the church into a new sanctuary that seats 2,300 in May of 1999 and in September of 2005 into the 68,000 square foot Community Resource Center consisting of an Academy Child Development Center, a Health and Wellness Center, and a Banquet and Conference Center. In October of 2008, the church opened its second location in the northeast part of Columbia and in 2020 completed the Christian Learning Center, which hold its Youth and Teen Center; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Council of the City of West Columbia does hereby recognize and congratulate Dr. Charles B. Jackson, Sr. on the celebration of his 50th year as Pastor of Brookland Baptist Church; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Council expresses its gratitude and extends its appreciation to Dr. Jackson for his contributions, his dedication, and his faithful service to the West Columbia community. The Mayor and City Council wishes Dr. Jackson continued achievement and success in the future.