Basil Jackson,

Bluefield, WV- Basil Lynwood Jackson, 87, of Bluefield, WV, passed away on June 22, 2011 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jean Elizabeth Cothern Jackson, one son, Robert L. Jackson of Bluefield, WV; one daughter, Dorothy Jackson Godbery and husband Bruce Godbery and their children Brooks and Casey of Prairieville, LA; one sister-in law, Dorothy Cothern Nugent of Camden, SC and her children Amy Nugent Haase and husband Marcus Haase of Charlotte, NC and Meg Nugent Hodge and husband Scott Hodge of Atlanta, GA; and one cousin, Sharon Houghtby and husband Don Houghtby of Birmingham, Mich. He was preceded in death by his parents, Basil L. Jackson and Emily Spence Jackson of Portsmouth, VA. B.L. Jackson, Jr. was a native of Portsmouth, VA and he was born on June 16, 1924. He graduated second in his high school class in 1941. As a first year student at Virginia Tech, he entered military service and served with the 30th Inf. Division in the European Theater of Operation. His outfit participated in the Normandy Campaign, Central France, the Low Countries, The Battle of the Bulge, and Germany. In 1946, he returned to Virginia Tech and graduated with a B.S. in Business and Accounting. As an undergraduate, he was a member of Alpha Kappa PSI, a professional fraternity, was President of the Cotillion Club, and President of Omicron Delta Kappa, a leadership fraternity. During his early banking career, he attended and graduated from a graduate banking school at the University of Wisconsin. Professionally, his first job opportunity came with the Ford Motor Company in the sales department at the Norfolk, VA plant in 1951. He became a supply officer with Corp of Engineers regarding air base construction in French Morocco, North Africa. After his military tour, he accepted a position as an accountant with John Heins Company with offices in Philadelphia, PA and Bluefield, WV. He began his banking career as Cashier and Board Member of The Bank of Pocahontas in Pocahontas, VA. Jackson, during the early 60’s, served as Executive Vice President and President of Mercer County Bank in Princeton. In 1964, he was elected Executive Vice President of The First National Bank of Bluefield; and in 1966, he was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association. He was also President of the new Southwest Virginia National Bank in Bluefield, VA. As a part of his duties, he served on Advisory Committees with the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve Fifth District. He worked for improved banking service by creating off-premise bank service. Computer automation of bank records became a reality. For numerous years, he was an active participant for bank expansion in the form of multi-bank holding companies and branch banking. Later as President of the West Virginia Bankers Association, multi-bank holding companies and branch banking were enacted into law. Over a period of years, B.L. Jackson served on the following Board of Directors: Bank of Pocahontas, Mercer County Bank, President of Princeton Credit Bureau, Southwest Virginia National Bank, First National Bank of Bluefield, West Virginia Business Development Corporation, West Virginia Bankers Association, Pocahontas Bankshares Corporation, Bland Street United Methodist Church-Adm. Board, Flat Top Insurance Agency, Bluefield Coca Cola Bottling, Pocahontas Welding Company, Bluefield Area Development Corporation, Bluefield-Princeton Industrial Foundation, Inc., Bluefield Health Systems, Mountaineer Resources, Inc., Bluefield Regional Medical Center, Bluefield Regional Medical Center Foundation, Bluefield Chamber of Commerce, Bluefield Country Club, and Fincastle Country Club. He is a Past President of Pocahontas Lions Club and past member of the Bluefield Rotary Club. Presently, he is a member of The American Legion and Bland Street United Methodist Church. B.L. Jackson was President of the Bluefield Chamber of Commerce for two terms, Vice President and President-Elect of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, President of Group V West Virginia Bankers and active officer in American Institute of Banking, President of West Virginia Business Development Corporation, active Chairman of several committees of the West Virginia Bankers Association and later President of the West Virginia Bankers Association, active officer of Robert Morris Associates, active officer of Advisory Group Small Business Administration, active member of Legislative Committee for West Virginia Bankers and the Governing Council American Bankers Association. President and Chief Executive Officer of The First National Bank of Bluefield and headed the group which founded Pocahontas Bankshares as Chairman of the Board, 2nd Chairman of the Board of Bluefield Regional Medical Center, Secretary-Treasurer of Bluefield Health Systems, President of Mountaineer Resources, President of Data Center, Inc. and President of Bluefield Country Club. Jackson was a former member of Leadership Team for Bluefield Chamber of Commerce member, member of Advisory Board for Bluefield State College, active with the Boy Scouts in past years, former President of Virginia Tech Alumni Chapter, Chairman of Parking Facilities Board of Bluefield, and Chairman of the Study Group for Bluefield City Elections and served on a committee for the United Jewish Charities. Basil Jackson also served as past president of the Credit Bureau of Princeton and the Data Center, Inc. , and the Bluefield Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. He served as Past Chairman of the Operations Committee of the West Virginia Banker’s Association. Basil served as past Director of the Bluefield Area Development Corporation, Pocahontas Welding Corporation, Northfork Coca Cola Bottling Company, Glenwood Park Methodist Home, The West Virginia Alliance of Hospital Governing Boards, Flat Top Insurance Agency, and The Governmental Council and Bank Leadership Commission. He was a member of the Legislative Committee and Automotive Committees of the West Virginia Bankers Association. He was a member of the Regional Advisory Committee for the Comptroller of the Currency. He was past Secretary of the Bluefield Community Hospital Foundation, Inc and was past Secretary-Treasurer of the Bluefield Princeton Foundation, Inc. In addition to his part regarding the passage of legislation creating multi-bank holding company’s branch banking, he was also proud of his contribution regarding the relocation of The Dean Company from Chicago and his work regarding the building of the new Bland Street United Methodist Church. Basil Jackson was the recipient of the following awards: “Kentucky Colonel” in 1968, “Boss of the Year” in 1970 presented by the Professional Secretaries International, “Outstanding Man of the Year” in 1976 presented by the Greater Bluefield Jaycees, “Boss of the Year” in 1979 presented by the Greater Bluefield Jaycees, and the “Robert Francis Hamilton Award” in 2008 presented by the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce. Basil was active in the Sales Executive Club, The Clover Club, The Bluestone Club, The University Club (Past Vice-President), The Mercer County Crippled Children’s Association, the Bluefield United Way, and Fincastle Country Club. On July 29, 1950, Basil married Jean Cothern, the daughter of Leland and Dorothy Cothern. His wife Jean graduated from Ohio State University with a B.S. in Home Economics and with teaching certificates in English, Social Studies, and Home Economics in Secondary Education. His son Robert graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacy from Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama. Presently he is a Pharmacist at Bluefield Regional Medical Center and he is licensed to practice Pharmacy in West Virginia, Virginia and Alabama. Basil’s daughter Dorothy Jean Jackson Godbery graduated from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa with a B.S. in Education and Physical Education. She and her husband Bruce Godbery have two children, Brooks and Casey. Visitation will be held at Mercer Funeral Home on Sunday June 26, 2011 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted at Bland Street United Methodist Church on Monday June 27, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. David Hall officiating. Burial will follow at Monte Vista Park Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Lon Hopkins, Stan Hodges, Harold Lee Miller, Sr., Ron Satterfield, Henry Dave Smith, Brooks Godbery and Roger Budner. Honorary pallbearers will be Officers of First Century Bank, Frank Wilkinson, Buzzy Wilkinson, John Beckett, Bill Albert, Ronnie Hypes and Jeff Forelines. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions, if desired, be made to Bland Street United Methodist Church, Pastor’s Fund, 2620 Bland Road, Bluefield, WV 24701 or to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 163549, Columbus, OH 43216-3549. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Mr. Basil Lynwood Jackson, Jr.

Basil Jackson,

June 16, 1924 - June 22, 2011