NEW ORLEANS — There was a public farewell to a long-time public servant.
On Tuesday afternoon, hundreds gathered for Jackie Clarkson's funeral services. Her legacy was celebrated in the heart of the city she championed in perfect New Orleans fashion.
A brass band played the dirge, “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.” Jackson Square from The Presbytère to St.Louis Cathedral was the perfect place for the family, five daughters and 26 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to take the last "closer walk" with Jackie Clarkson.
As a New Orleans councilwoman and state representative, the French Quarter was one of the areas she loved and fought hard for.
“If you needed to be in a foxhole, there was never a better person than Jackie Clarkson to do that, but she was also elegant, and she was also kind. And at the end of the day, just tenacious, and she, her primary love was the people of the city of New Orleans. And you know we're going to miss her. She was really a wonderful gift to all of us,” said former New Orleans mayor, Mitch Landrieu.
Archbishop Gregory Aymond led the funeral service for the woman who knew how to make things happen for her community.
“She was just relentless. She would not let you go, and even when you told her “no,” she would come back the next day, and then if you said no again she would find another way. I mean she had, never, never quit,” remembered Landrieu.
And she didn't give up when it came to rebuilding in 2005, even for the four-legged citizens.
Jackie Clarkson, along with all the city council members of New Orleans, won a humanitarian award for helping the city rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. She was instrumental in helping us raise funds,” said Rebecca Melanson, Communications Director of the Louisiana SPCA.
People who came to say goodbye to Jackie Clarkson not only have stories about how she helped the community but also about how she influenced them personally.
“She's really impacted countless women in New Orleans positively, and I just wanted to be here to say thank you, and don't want to lose the fact that I stand on her shoulders,” said Jennifer Van Vrancken, Jefferson Parish council member at large.
“She always took the high road, and that's something to really admire in politics, and she was great, and great for our city, and helped me personally when I was developing the hotel,” said business owner George Brower.
And no doubt, the hundreds who came to say farewell over the last two days each have a personal accomplishment moved forward by her help.
Clarkson was 88 years old.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.