Carolyn Jackson of Oak Bluffs died peacefully on April 10 while visiting family in Virginia. She was 88.

Born Feb. 28, 1928, Carolyn Arbell Teixeira Jackson was one of four siblings from Quincy. As a teenager, Carolyn worked for her father’s business, a well-known delicatessen in Quincy known as Tony’s Jam Kitchen. Following the early death of both her parents, Carolyn moved to Washington, D.C. to attend Howard University, where she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in economics.

While completing her education at Howard University, she met and married George W. Jackson of Washington D.C. in 1957, and had two children, Andrea Marie and George Arthur.

Carolyn’s early career was in economics, first at the Brookings Institution, then the Departments of Labor, Health, Education and Welfare and the U.S. Agency for International Development. At midlife, Carolyn sought new challenges and left civil service to return to her entrepreneurial roots. Accordingly, she established Jackson Realty and worked as a broker and property manager in D.C. and Maryland. She took pride in helping people secure homes for over 20 years and would come to life whenever she saw someone in need. Carolyn’s most distinct gift was that of motivation and empowerment to others. She was never lacking for apt inspirational advice and has bolstered many to seek and achieve their dreams. To Carolyn, nothing was impossible; it was only a matter of how to achieve the goal. Those who have met her never forget her statuesque presence and dynamic energy.

Carolyn was an active and golden soror in Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. and a charter member of the Xi Zeta Omega in Washington D.C. Upon retirement from real estate and the death of her husband, she moved to Martha’s Vineyard, the place where she had vacationed as a child and owned family property. She and her siblings, Dr. Gertrude Hunter, Teixeira Nash, and Dr. Antonio Teixeira had an extraordinary bond which they fueled with daily conversations. They had an annual ritual of celebrating their birthdays together over breakfast for many years.

Carolyn was most devoted to her grandchildren and actively participated in their activities and at their schools. She was an avid card player and pinochle was her game. She loved people, walking and social events, and was a frequent visitor at the Oak Bluffs Library. She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Martha’s Vineyard and the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging.

She is predeceased by her husband of 31 years, George W. Jackson, and grandson Harbi Adam. Survivors include her brother Dr. Antonio Teixeira and his wife Constance Teixeira, her daughter Dr. Andrea Jackson; her son George A. Jackson, six grandchildren, Regina, Faisal, Alexis, Quincy, Jack and George, and two great-grandsons, Gregory and Jeremy. She also had a host of nieces, nephews and friends to whom she was extremely devoted.

If desired, donations can be made to the Martha’s Vineyard NAACP or the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging. No flowers please.