Margaret Jackson Gross (1912–1984)

Biography

Margaret Jackson Gross was the youngest daughter of Matthew Heywood Jackson, Sr. and Ruth M Jackson, a family that embodied the ideals of scholarship, leadership, and civic service. Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, Margaret grew up in Chicago alongside her accomplished sisters, Dorothy Clarke Jackson Newsom and Ruth Jackson Jr., in a household that championed education and cultural excellence.

A Golden Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Margaret began her academic journey at the University of Chicago, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree, and by 1935, she was pursuing a Master’s degree in English. She launched her teaching career at Shaw University, one of the oldest historically Black universities in the country, before moving to Detroit, Michigan. There, she continued her professional journey as an English teacher and department head at Sherrod Junior High School.

Margaret married and raised two children, Joseph J. Gross Jr. and Eleanore Sharp. Her legacy extended through her son Joseph, who became a Howard University graduate, civil rights activist, and leader in youth development as an executive with the Boy Scouts of America. Margaret’s life reflected a seamless blend of academic rigor, cultural pride, and community uplift.

She passed away on August 12, 1984, in Detroit, Michigan, leaving behind six grandchildren, a proud extended family, and a remarkable legacy of education, leadership, and sorority sisterhood.

Affiliated Chapters: Beta & Theta Omega

Affiliated Members: Ruth Jackson Sr, Ruth Jackson Jr., Dorothy Jackson Newsom,