Edna Branch Jackson
 

Edna Branch Jackson
State Representative
Former Mayor of Savannah

Former Mayor EDNA BRANCH JACKSON was elected to serve as the 65th mayor of Savannah, Georgia and the first African-American woman to hold this position.  Prior to this election, she was re-elected to serve three terms as Alderman-at-Large Post 1 on the Savannah City Council from January 2000 to 2012 2007, and the members of City Council elected her to serve as Mayor Pro Tem from 2005 to 2012, making her the first female and first African American Female to hold that position on the Council. She served as 1ST Vice President on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) and as the former president for the 12th District.   Mrs. Jackson served two years as Chairman of the Chatham County Municipal Association, which includes elected officials from eight municipalities in Chatham County. Jackson served on the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities (NLC), an organization that advocates for cities and towns across the United States, and also was a member of the NLC board’s Leadership Training Council.  She is a former President of the National League of Cities’ (NLC’s) Women in Municipal Government (WIMG), which is comprised of women elected officials who serve in municipal governments throughout the United States.

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Jackson began her career as a public servant as an NAACP Youth Council member in Savannah at the age of nine. While a student at Alfred Ely Beach High School, she began her journey with the Civil Rights movement in Savannah under the leadership of the late W. W. Law and Judge Eugene H. Gadsden. She was among the students who participated in the “Sit-ins” at downtown Savannah businesses, the “Wade-In’s” at Tybee Beach, and the “Kneel-Ins” at various Savannah churches during the Civil Rights movement in Savannah in the early ’60s. After graduating from Beach High in 1962, she entered Savannah State College (now University), but the fight for the civil rights of her people took precedence over her education for a few years. During this period, she was employed with the NAACP National Youth Task Force traveling throughout the southeast demonstrating and conducting voter registration drives. She was also a member of National Youth Work Committee of the NAACP, coordinating its youth conventions on the National and Regional levels. At age 18, Jackson took an integrated group of students from Tampa, Florida to the 1963 March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., made his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. She also participated in the March from Selma to Montgomery, Al.

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Having been taught the value of education, she returned to Savannah State College and completed the Bachelor of Science in Sociology in 1968 and later earned the Master of Education in 1972 from Savannah State University/Armstrong Atlantic State University with additional studies in Counseling at Georgia Southern University.  After employment as a social worker with the Economic Opportunity Authority, she was appointed in 1971 by Savannah State University as Director of the Emergency School Assistance Program (ESAP) to work with the integration of Chatham County Georgia Schools. During her tenure of employment, at Savannah State University, she served her alma mater in the areas of counseling, admissions and recruiting, financial aid, and as Director of Alumni Affairs and Elderhostel Coordinator. She retired in 2001 after 30 years of service.

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Mayor Jackson traveled throughout the United States, China, Ghana, Nigeria, Israel, Turkey and other countries to bring businesses to Savannah and the region.  She had the distinction of presenting a paper on tourism, preservation, and economic development in Shanghai, China in October 2014.

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Under her leadership as Mayor, the city received AAA+ bond rating, tourism increased to 13 million, jobs increased, City employee’s salary adjustments were made, and the city had the highest number of international corporations locating to the community in its history.  Within one year, 122 new police officers were hired. Over 400 million dollars in construction started. Another 50 million approval for startups. Unemployment decreased from 10% to 5%.  

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In the Savannah community, Edna Jackson has rendered the same level of dedicated service. She is Former Vice Chairman and member of the Chatham County Democratic Executive Committee, former Chairperson of the Chatham County Hospital Authority, former board member of Economic Opportunity Authority, and former member of the U.S. Selective Board. She was appointed by Congressman John Barrow to serve as a member of the Military Academy Selection Committee and the Regional Committee of the U. S. Civil Rights Commission. Jackson is the past Southern Regional Vice President and National Vice President of the SSU National Alumni Association. She is also a member of the NAACP, and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Savannah Regional Second Harvest Food Bank.

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Mrs. Jackson is a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is also one of the founders and organizers of the Mandingo Socio-Civic Club. Jackson is a communicant of St Philip AME Church, where she is a member of the Celestine Guild. A native of Savannah, she is the daughter of the late Mrs. Georgia Dillard of Tampa, Florida and the mother of one son, Kevan LaMar Jackson, of Savannah.

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Mrs. Jackson has received many honors: Savannah Alumnae Chapter named their Community Service Scholarship in her honor during the 75th Chapter Anniversary.  Others are  A Working Woman in Need (AWWIN), Top 10 Working Women of the Year Award; NAFEO Outstanding Alumnus from Savannah State College; Alumnus of the Year Savannah State University; SSU Founder, Richard R. Wright Award;  M L King Jr Observance Day Association Civil Rights Leader; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Alfreta Adams Community Serve Award; A. E Beach Class of 62’ Humanitarian Award; Mutuals Civic Organization Political Leader Award; AME Church Conference Founders Day Parade Marshall; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Citizen of the Year Award 1996;Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority – Mozella Collier  Volunteer Service Award 1997; EOA Martin Luther King Service Award 2000; Yellow Dog Democrat Award July 2002; Tom Joyner Hardest Working Community Advocate Award 2004L; WQBT Platinum Community Leadership Award 2005; Goodness & Mercy Foundation Award 2007; Chatham County Democrat Toby Buttimer Award 2007; NAACP Freedom Award 2008; International Longshoremen Local 1414 Humanitarian Award 2008;  Savannah Civil Rights Museum Unsung Heroes Award 2010; Savannah-Beaufort- Low Country Bennett College Alumnae Civil Rights Pioneer Award- 2011, Savannah College of Art and DeSign (SCAD) Women of Vision award 2018 and many, many others.

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Edna’s journey continues every day.