Reading her aunt and uncle’s love story captivated René Gordon from the first words.
“When my uncle sent me the manuscript, I thought I’d open it up, read a little bit and put it down and go back to it, but I opened it and couldn’t put it down. It was the most endearing and touching and sweetest story I’d ever heard,” said Gordon who helped Dorothy and Isaac Jackson Jr. publish their book Our Love Story: How we met How we live in 2019.
Our Love Story, an adaptation of their book, is coming to the stage Sept. 9 and 10 at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts — just in time for the couple to mark 75 years of marriage on Sept. 12.
Written by Zirzeria Wright, the play is produced by Gordon and directed by Kiara Iman.
One of the things that impacted Gordon as she read the manuscript were the vivid memories Mr. Jackson conveyed of his beloved wife. He wrote the book when he was 90 and Mrs. Jackson was 89, but the years didn’t cause the details to fade, Gordon said.
“The year that we met was 1940,” said Mrs. Jackson. “I was 10, and he was 11. And it started from there.”
A flood forced Mrs. Jackson’s family to move to Conklin Lane, where Mr. Jackson’s family lived. They grew up together and married in 1948.
Gordon said the sweet love story reflects a different era when Mr. Jackson had to ask permission to court his sweetheart and later marry her.
The Jacksons’ marriage isn’t a just a testament of weathering the test of time, it’s the story of falling in love, staying in love and relying on that love to get through life’s storms
“We always worked together hand in hand,” said Mrs. Jackson. “We’ve never had any ups and downs. We married with love, put our love together and we worked together.”
The two of them wrote the book together to give people hope for an enduring marriage.
Mrs. Jackson said one of the keys she’s learned over the years involves communication.
Always allow each person to speak and don’t talk over the other, she said. It’s important to allow each person to speak everything that needs to be said and to listen while the other person is speaking. Once one person is finished, the other person may speak and receive the same courtesy.
With the problems discussed openly, then the two people can make the necessary compromises and work everything out, she said.
Also, their faith is an integral part of their marriage’s success, they said.
The play intermingles original songs and poetry with their story.
The Jacksons haven’t seen it, but Co-nesha Evans, who is the publicist for the play, said she believes they will be pleased when they see the finished product.
“This cast is just incredible,” she said.
For ticket information, visit here.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
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