Percy M. Jackson

Percy M. Jackson, Jr.

August 30, 1054 - August 6, 2025

Percy M. Jackson, Jr. passed away on Wednesday August 6, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Born August 30, 1954, to Percy M. and Annie Mae Jackson, Percy grew up in the Hill District in a home where he developed a strong faith, unwavering values, and a desire to serve others. As an adult, he bought a home in Mt. Lebanon, where he lived for more than thirty years.

After a stint in the Army, Percy graduated from Duquesne University School of Pharmacy. He enjoyed a long career in the field, including eight years with Glaxo Smith Kline, twenty-six years with Allegheny Health Network, five years with Highmark, and four years at Change Healthcare. His manager at GSK, Steve Heinricks, rememberered him as a thoughtful and highly principled man and an incredible conversationalist who could talk to anybody about anything, no matter how controversial. "At the end of a conversation with Percy," he recalled, "you would have learned something and grown closer to him. This endeared him to customers, colleagues, and anyone he met."

In addition, Percy generously shared his expertise with aspiring pharmacy technicians at the Bidwell Training Center, where he taught and mentored countless students. They found him to be "tough, but fair," always trying to help people be more than they thought they could be.

Percy's faith was nurtured at Calvary Baptist Church in the Hill District, where he served as a trustee. Later, after an exhaustive search for a new church home, in 1992 he chose Shadyside Presbyterian Church, where he relished the church's history and landmark architecture and served in many leadership roles over the years. He was initially involved with youth and young adult ministry and later served one term as a deacon and three terms as an elder. A reliable and effective leader, Percy chaired the Finance Committee, served on the Stewardship Committee, coordinated both the ushers and communion servers, worked on a Pastor Nominating Committee, and was chair of the church's Sesquicentennial Committee as well as the Pastor Nominating Committee that called the Rev. Austin Crenshaw Shelley as senior pastor.

Known for his sartorial elegance, Percy was always impeccably dressed, but with a smile that hinted at his mischievous sense of humor. He never let formality dull his sense of fun. His church friends became his family, and he enjoyed a strong bond with his "posse," who described him as a compassionate gentleman of the highest integrity and a lively and witty storyteller with an encyclopedic knowledge of American history, particularly presidential history. An avid golfer, he was a member of Longue Vue Club, where his friends recall his love of the game and all of its intracicies, his unyielding respect for the rules, and his antics both on and off the course. "Percy knew more about golf than anyone I have ever known," said Tom Wentling, "from club design and mechanics to the Rules of Golf. And he developed his own unique code of conduct."

Percy is survived by his dear friend and caregiver, Linda, as well as cousins and a host of loyal and admiring friends. A memorial service will be held at Shadyside Presbyterian Church on Saturday, September 20 at 11:00AM. In lieu of flowers, you may consider a memorial contribution in memory of Percy Jackson to Shadyside Presbyterian Church. Arrangements by John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc. (freyvogelfuneralhome.com)