GhLinks Media
Tyra Small-Jackson, also known as Dede by her friends, has been identified as the victim in a fatal car accident on Interstate 55.
The Gluckstadt Police Department confirmed the tragic news.
The accident occurred on 22nd June around 5:30 PM, causing heavy traffic and the closure of all lanes, as reported by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
Authorities have stated that the crash was the result of a head-on collision caused by a wrong-way driver near the Gluckstadt Road exit.
Who was Tyra Small Jackson?
Tyra Small-Jackson is a 23-year veteran teacher and a native Cantonian, who has matriculated through these halls as a Mighty Tiger.
She was Miss Sophomore, Miss BSAP, a yearbook staff member, and an editor of the Tiger Tribune.
She was a member of the Canton High Gospel Soul Children, founded by the great Randolph Watson.
Being in the choir afforded her an opportunity to travel in and out of state, perform in choir competitions, record music professionally, and also sing in the movie A Time to Kill.
Mrs. Jackson was also a member of Mu Alpha Theta and the National Honor Society.
While being in Mu Alpha Theta, Mrs. Jackson was able to compete in math competitions on the local and state levels.
She graduated in 1994 in the top 3 of her class.
After graduating high school, Mrs. Jackson attended Belhaven College, later named Belhaven University.
While there, she was a member of BSA, the Black Student Association, a Scholar in Resident, and a recipient of Representative Bennie G. Thompson’s scholarship.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education.
Mrs. Jackson chose to give back to her community and began her teaching career at Nichols Middle School under the leadership of Mr. Cleveland Anderson.
She has taught 7th-grade Reading, 5th and 6th-grade ELA, and 8th-grade Computer Discovery, ICT II, and Cyber Foundations II.
She was selected as Nichols Middle School’s 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year and received numerous awards during her tenure in the district.
She has worked at Porter Middle School and briefly at Canton Elementary.
Throughout her tenure, she has served on several committees and received many accolades.
While teaching, Mrs. Jackson furthered her education by attending THEE Jackson State University, where she received a Master’s degree in Elementary Education.
