First Alumnus Comes Home for 50th
Anne Tyson Jackson '52

For her senior year, Anne left the bustling Savannah High School to live in a rustic cabin at the Evangelical Bible Institute on Telfair Road. Only nine students, five girls and four boys, were enrolled during the 1951-1952 school year. Anne was the only senior, so all the other students took the same classes that she did.

At the time, the cost for attending Savannah Christian was about $35 per month, which included room, board and tuition. Additionally, all of the students had chores. Some milked cows, some farmed, while others set the tables for meals, washed dishes and cleaned.

After graduation, Anne attended Bob Jones University where she majored in Elementary Education with a minor in English. Just before her graduation from Bob Jones, a pastor from Whittier, Cal. came on campus interviewing students to teach at his church school. She and a friend decided it would be fun to teach and live in sunny California, so off they went. In 1957, Anne married the late Merle Packer and in 1962, she completed her Masters of Education at Whittier College.

During her 37-year teaching career, Anne taught more than 1,200 students. Her teaching and leadership accomplishments have been recognized many times. In 1970, the PTA bestowed an Honorary Life Membership Award for Community Service. She was selected as Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America in 1974; co-authored a parent education booklet, “Together-Develop a Reading Child” in 1975; was selected as Fellow to the National Writing Project in 1985; Who’s Who in American Education 1989-1990 edition; and in 1993 Anne received the California Teacher’s Association “We Honor Ours” (WHO) Award.

Since her retirement in 1993, Anne has fulfilled a lifelong dream of traveling and participating in short-term missionary projects. To date, she has traveled to many places and served on missionary teams to Brussels and Mexico City.

Anne is married to Bill Jackson, a retired sound editor who has worked on such classics as “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Good Will Hunting.” They both enjoy traveling, walking, participating in Christ Care Groups, serving on a food distribution committee, being active in the “Celebration Generation” activities at St. John’s Lutheran Church, gardening and entertaining friends and family.

During her recent visit to the campus, Anne enjoyed pointing out old landmarks like the tabernacle (now fine arts). She was amazed at the growth of the campus over the years. Anne was an honored guest at Savannah Christian’s graduation on May 19, 2002. Headmaster Roger Yancey enumerated all of Anne’s accomplishments since receiving her own diploma fifty years ago and presented her with a framed “SCPS 50” print taken during the school’s 50th Anniversary celebration in September, 2001.

Following a standing ovation, Anne said, “I’m humbled and overwhelmed at the homecoming I’ve received and the wonderful work that continues to be done. God has been so good to the school.”