Jackson was born on July 18, 1921, in Birmingham, Alabama, but was raised in Youngstown, Ohio, where his family had moved to escape racial discrimination and to seek higher salaried employment.

[1] In 1949,[3] after being denied employment by hospital administrators in Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Fort Myers, West Palm Beach and Miami, who would not allow African-Americans to practice surgery, he moved to Lakeland where Lakeland General Hospital had no such restrictions although Jackson was not allowed to treat white patients.

[1] Jackson was appointed to the city's Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeals by then mayor W.J.

While mayor, he secured passage of an anti-discrimination ordinance after a Black serviceman was denied service at a local bar.

[1] John S. Jackson died in Polk County, Florida on June 24, 1987, at the age of 65.