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Promoted to Glory
Brigadier James R. Watt
Brigadier James Richard Watt was promoted to Glory on November 28.
The son of officer parents George and Bernice Watt, Jim was born in Aledo, Illinois on November 12, 1919 and grew up in the Central Territory. He entered the School for Officer Training in Chicago, Illinois and was commissioned in 1941 with The Crusaders Session. He then served in several Central Territory appointments, and met and married Lieutenant Judy Fleming while stationed in Faribault, Minnesota. While serving there he was also initiated into the field of capital campaigns and building new facilities.
Eventually the Watts were transferred to San Diego, California. They also served in San Bernardino, Santa Monica, Los Angeles and Oakland, Calif. In San Bernardino, Jim was again involved in a successful capital campaign and building, which was considered one of the best in the territory at the time of construction. He was also president of the San Bernardino County Council of Social Agencies.
Other appointments included: Cascade Divisional Public Relations secretary; Tucson, Arizona, where he led another successful capital campaign and constructed a Hospitality House and Family Service center—he also served on the Board of Directors and as treasurer for the Arizona State Conference on Social Welfare; School for Officer Training in San Francisco, business administrator and men’s side officer—while there he was a delegate to the International College for Officers in London; Los Angeles Evangeline Residence, managers; Intermountain divisional secretary; territorial Public Relations secretary; territorial Community Relations secretary; and secretary for Supplies and Purchasing.
The Watts retired in 1984 and moved to Lake Elsinore, Calif.
Surviving Jim are wife Judy; two sons, Jim (Shirley) and Dr. Dave (Elaine) Watt; one daughter, Kathleen (Mick) Carr; brother, Major George (Helen) Watt; and six grandchildren.
Commissioner Ken Hood officiated at the graveside service and Commissioner Joe Noland officiated at the Celebration of Life service, held at the Sacramento Citadel Corps.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be sent to The Salvation Army Watt Family Missionary Trust for Officers’ Children held at Territorial Headquarters, Personnel Department, P.O. Box 22646, Long Beach, CA 90802-5646.
Mona K. Jackson
Salvationist Mona Jackson, soldier of the Kake, Alaska corps, was promoted to Glory from her home on November 9. Mona was the last of the high-ranking matriarchs in Southeast Alaska, a woman of significant accomplishments, loved and honored by many.
Mona Ingram was born February 8, 1913 in Massett, British Columbia, Haida of the Eagle-Hummingbird people. At age 10, she moved with her family to Prince of Wales Island.
She became a teacher and in 1940 married Thomas Jackson, Sr. Tommy was a direct descendant of Charles Newton, a Tlingit Salvationist who pioneered the Army’s work among the Tlingit in Alaska. Tommy was instrumental in the Army’s expansion in Southeast Alaska—a corps sergeant major and spiritual leader.
In 1949 Mona was enrolled as a senior soldier by Sr. Field Captain Charles Newton. She subsequently served as corps cadet counselor, Sunday school teacher, recruiting sergeant and Home League secretary.
Mona helped found the Kake Head Start program in 1965. She retired from teaching after 36 years, in 1975. In 1999 she was honored as Parent of the Year by Alaska Native Education Association, and in 2002 she was honored as Educator of the Year for Southeast Alaska by the First Alaskans Institute.
Mona and Tommy had 14 sons and 8 daughters, including their adopted children, and were blessed with 54 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great grandchildren. Granddaughter Captain Vicki Jackson is corps officer of the Klawock Corps.
On her 90th birthday, friends and family paid tribute to Mona with the raising of a Hummingbird-Raven totem pole carved in her honor by grandson Daniel Jackson (recently promoted to Glory in September), under the supervision of master carver, Norman Jackson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas L. Jackson, Sr.; son Thomas L. Jackson, Jr.; and grandchildren, Daniel Lawrence Jackson and Jerry Gagnon.