Dr. Maxie C. Jackson, Jr. was born March 27, 1939, in Gadsden, Alabama to Rev. Maxie C. Jackson, Sr. and Mrs. Annie Washington Jackson. He was raised in Montgomery, Alabama where he graduated from the Alabama State College Laboratory Elementary and High School – with Honors. A steadfast Spartan, Maxie entered Michigan State University at the age of 16. He earned his Bachelor's degree in History and Geography, Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Higher Education Administration, all on the Banks of the Red Cedar.

Maxie was drafted into the Military in January 1962, becoming an Air Weather Observer in the U.S. Air Force, and was honorably discharged in December 1965. While in service in Alexandria, Louisiana, he met Carrie Baptiste who would become his life-long partner, and they married in 1965. The Jacksons relocated to East Lansing, where they created a legacy of service to the community, while raising four delightful children - a son and three daughters.

He began his professional career as a counselor at the Ionia Correctional Facility. However, Maxie's career was grounded at Michigan State University where he held several positions, including Director of the Volunteer Bureau, Director of the Center for Urban Affairs, and Director of the Affirmative Action Graduate Financial Assistance Programs, Assistant Dean of the Graduate School, and Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Urban Affairs Programs. With a heart in volunteerism and community organization, Maxie developed a Volunteer Administration specialization in the Department of Urban and Metropolitan Studies in the College of Urban Development. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the Lansing Voluntary Action Center. Maxie was appointed by Michigan Governor William G. Milliken to the Governor's Commission for Volunteerism in Michigan (1977-79), and by United States President Jimmy Carter to the National Advisory Council for Adult Education (1979-1983), serving as the elected Chairperson of the Commission from 1980-82.

Maxie brought his expertise to three other roles while on leave at MSU: Administrator and Director of Research, Planning and Development at the newly established Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Non-violent Social Change in Atlanta, GA (appointed by Coretta Scott King), 1976-77;  Assistant Deputy Director of Urban and Public Transportation in the Michigan Department of Transportation (appointed by Michigan Governor William G. Milliken), 1979-1981; and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of the District of Columbia, 1985 (appointed by President Robert Green).

With colleagues at MSU, he conducted a national research project on neighborhood associations which led to the creation of the Neighborhood Associations of Michigan (NAM) in 1985; he served as the NAM Secretariat from 1985 to 2019. As the Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Urban Affairs Programs, Maxie was influential in providing funding for African American graduate students attending MSU. Maxie was also the Executive Producer and Host of "MetroLIVE" – a weekly cable television program focusing on issues impacting the quality of life in urban communities, aired in East Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Saginaw. Working with the Michigan Council of Urban League Presidents, he was instrumental in the development and production of the 10-year publication The State of Black Michigan via MSU's Urban Affairs Programs. After a dedicated career, Maxie retired in 2001.

An entrepreneur, Maxie was a founding Principal in Professional Psychological & Psychiatric Services, PC, a mental health and substance abuse clinic, 1986-2019, and a Popeyes franchise owner in Saginaw, Michigan, 1989-91.

Maxie was civically engaged in the Greater Lansing community. He served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Lansing Urban League, The Capital Area United Way, and the American Red Cross. He was a member of the East Lansing Crystal Award Committee; and a Silver Life Member of the NAACP. In the Spartan community, Maxie was a Life Member of the MSU Black Alumni, Inc., was recognized as a member of the MSU President's Club for his generous contributions, and was honored with the Historical Leader Award in 2018 by the MSU Black Faculty, Staff and Administrators Association.

Having grown up in the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church with a father who was the Presiding Elder of the Montgomery District (Alabama), Maxie was a devoted member of Mask Memorial CME Church for more than 50 years. He served in a variety of capacities, including
Usher Board member and Director of Vacation Bible School. Maxie created and directed the Academic Coaching Program, whereby MSU students provided tutoring for youth in the Church and community.

With a true zest for life, Maxie enjoyed his social ties to the community and fraternal organizations. A 67-year, Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Maxie was initiated into the Fraternity at MSU in his beloved Delta Pi Chapter on November 22, 1957, and continued his membership with the Flint-Lansing and Lansing Alumni Chapters. A dedicated Kappa Man, he served as Keeper of Records (secretary) and Polemarch (president) in the Delta Pi and Flint-Lansing Chapters, and Graduate Advisor to Delta Pi Chapter for more than ten years. Maxie was appointed to the International Headquarters Social Action Commission, and later received the Robert L. Gordon Award in 2002 – the Northern Province's highest award. From 2012 to 2021, he represented the Northern Province on the Fraternity's Laurel Wreath Commission, tasked with reviewing and recommending deserving members to receive the Fraternity's highest award. Maxie was the recipient of the Founders Award in 2018 by the Lansing Alumni Chapter, and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 for his leadership in the Fraternity. In May 2022, Maxie was among the 1st class of inductees to the Delta Pi Hall of Fame.

Maxie was proudly initiated into Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc., in the Alpha Chi Boulé of Lansing, Michigan, in 1979. He served as the Boulé's Grapter (historian), Grammateus (secretary) and Sire Archon (president). Along with other native Alabamians in the chapter, Maxie was a part of
the "Bama Boulé;" their annual song and dance performance always proved memorable, and was highly anticipated each year at their winter gala.

As an alumnus of the Alabama State College Laboratory Elementary and High School, Maxie rarely missed their all-class reunions, which were held each year around Thanksgiving. With no family remaining in Alabama, maintaining this connection was special for him. Likewise, Maxie was a die-hard Spartan fan and season-ticket holder for both basketball and football. With his family and/or friends, he traveled to bowl games across the country, and tailgated at home (win or lose) for decades, indoctrinating his children to be life-long Spartans.

Maxie was a devoted family man who loved spending quality time with his immediate and extended family members. He and Carrie were lovers of jazz and attended many MSU jazz concerts and jazz cruises with his sisters and brother-in-law. He sent birthday cards annually to every descendant of his parents, a tradition the recipients truly looked forward to each year. Maxie very rarely missed the bi-annual reunions of the Baptiste-Jacquot and Fant-Washington Reunions, and attended the Jackson Family Reunions. He served as the Treasurer of the Fant-Washington Family Reunion Scholarship fund from 1983 to 2022. Believing they "hit the jackpot" with such an outstanding father, his children were proud to share him with their friends. Maxie was honored and blessed to welcome four of his nephews into the Jackson home during their collegiate and high school years – Guy Juzang, Dwayne Pradia, Jason Pradia and Jeremy Pradia.

Maxie was preceded in death by: his father, Rev. Maxie C. Jackson, Sr.; mother, Mrs. Annie Washington Jackson; and sister, Mary Jackson Juzang. He leaves to mourn: his devoted and loving wife of 60 years, Dr. Carrie Baptiste Jackson; son, Maxie C (Carmen) Jackson, III; daughters, Lori (Raymond) Brock, Danielle (Parmi) Suchdev, and Andrea (Lynn) Gavin; grandchildren, Kai Ra Samuels-Jackson, Maxie C Jackson, IV, Nia Kaur Suchdev, Jax Singh Suchdev, Ethan Zachary Gavin and Eva Carrie-Gloria Gavin; sister, Maxine Jackson Yarbrough; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins in the Fant-Washington, Jackson, and Baptiste-Jacquot families; and many beloved friends.

In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations may be made to the Maxie C. Jackson, Jr. Memorial Scholarship through The Delta Pi Foundation. For a list of donation options, visit https://www.thedeltapifoundation.org/scholarships/dr-maxie-c-jackson-jr-scholarship/

To watch the livestream of Mr. Jackson' service please click the following link: https://www.youtube.com/live/Qo31VjgTXIM?si=c1TtjPan4BLIGjvc

Arrangements for Mr. Jackson are as follows: