Crowd shot masthead ApologetiX Logo Keith Haynie plays bassBill Hubauer plays lead guitarJ. Jackson sings leadJimmy Vegas Tanner plays drums
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03.18.24Get Multiple Downloads for One Donation
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03.16.24Influential Albums: 1402-1408
03.16.24New CD Slightly Delayed, BOGO Continues
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03.09.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
03.09.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
03.05.24This Week's News Bulletin
03.03.24New Single: '74 Solo Smashes
03.01.24A Serious Problem We're Trying to Address
02.29.24All About Our Next CD
02.29.24Influential Albums: 1388-1394
02.29.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.29.24Clues for 2024 Single #5
02.25.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.22.24Get Ready for Our Next CD
02.22.24Influential Albums: 1381-1387
02.22.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.22.24Wayne Is Retiring, What's Next for Him and Us?
02.22.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
02.19.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.19.24New Single: Billy & The Beach
02.16.24Influential Albums: 1374-1380
02.16.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.16.24Remembering ApX Friend Paul "Doc" Nigh (1956-2024)
02.16.24Clues for 2024 Single #4
02.10.24Influential Albums: 1367-1373
02.10.24Fans Making Plans to Attend Our Big Show September 1
02.10.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.10.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
02.06.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.06.24New Single: '74 & '83
02.03.24ApX Lead Singer/Lyricist Shares His Testimony 36 Years Later
02.03.24Influential Albums: 1360-1366
02.03.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.03.24Latest CD Added to iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Etc.
02.02.24Clues for 2024 Single #3
01.29.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.26.24Influential Albums: 1353-1359
01.26.24How to Get the ApX Library, USBs, Multiple Downloads
01.26.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
01.26.24Flashback: J.'s Vision for ApologetiX in 2014
01.26.24J.'s Vision for ApologetiX in 2024
01.26.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
01.24.24Checking in With ApX Alum Drummer Fred Behanna
01.22.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.22.24New Single: '70s #1 Hits That Remade '60s Top 10 Hits
01.19.24Influential Albums: 1346-1352
01.19.24Encouraging Message from Longtime Fan in Oklahoma
01.19.24This Week's Bible-Reading & Rock Thru the Bible
01.15.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.12.24Influential Albums: 1339-1346
01.12.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
01.12.24Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
01.12.24New Testament Reading Started Wednesday
01.11.24New Worship Songs Available from ApX Alum Bill Rieger
01.08.24New Single: '81 & '83
01.08.24New CD BOGO Ends Sunday
01.08.24New USB Thumb Drives on the Way
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01.05.24Influential Albums: 1332-1338
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12.26.23This Week's News Bulletin
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12.23.23Influential Albums: 1318-1324
12.23.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.23.23ApologetiX Updated Christmas Playlist
12.18.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.18.23New Samson CD Mailed to Fans, New Orders Sent as They Come In
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12.16.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.16.23New Story
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12.11.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.11.23New Single: '83 & '84
12.11.23ApX Apparel: Order by Tuesday with Express Shipping
12.07.23New ApX Apparel and More: Order Soon for Christmas
12.07.23Influential Albums: 1304-1310
12.07.23Just Reword CD Added to iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Etc.
12.07.23Clues for 2023 Single #25
12.04.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.02.23Influential Albums: 1297-1303
12.02.23This Week's Bible Reading & Rock Thru the Bible
12.02.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
12.02.23New Shirts & Other ApX Merch Coming Soon
12.02.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
11.28.23This Week's News Bulletin
11.28.23New Christmas Single: All '80s
11.24.23Influential Albums: 1290-1296

J.'s Mom Departs at Age 93
Fri., Nov. 4. 2022 11:45pm EDT

J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX (That Christian Parody Band) here.

I have some bittersweet news to share. My mother, Patricia Joyce Jackson, passed away in the wee hours of Thursday morning, November 3. She had turned 93 this past July and was eager to go. One time a number of years ago, my sister called her and asked what she was doing at the time, and she replied, "Waiting for God."

Numerous times since then, especially since Dad passed away in January 2020, she had referred to herself as being "in the waiting room." God mercifully allowed things to happen rather quickly … after 93 years, of course.

As was the case with my dad, I got to be the last family member to have a two-way conversation with my mom (I'm the only one of my siblings who lives in the state, and I had visited her Tuesday afternoon) and my youngest older sister, Gayle, got to be there when she drew her last breath.

Gayle noticed that same parallel with what happened with my dad as I did. I'm very grateful that I got that honor of talking with each of my parents last and that Gayle got the honor of being there when each of them passed. Our sister Kris lives a thousand miles away, but will be here this weekend.

Mom had a steep decline Wednesday morning, so the assisted-living place where she lived called and suggested that I might want to come out again. She'd fallen in the middle of the night, which is what happened to my dad right before he died, too. However, I'd already sensed during my visit the day before that she wasn't going to be around much longer.

Because of that, I even took special note at the time of the last thing she told me. As I was getting ready to leave, from out of the blue, she had said, "I think the Lord's got you in His hands." Immediately after I left her apartment that day, I sent myself a text message so I would remember her quote exactly.

I was there with Mom nine hours on Wednesday (my Aunt Mary was there, too, and my Aunt Pauli joined us later, and then Gayle arrived after that, since she had to drive up from a couple states away), but Mom was already unresponsive to communication at that point.

Even the times when her eyes were open, it was obvious her mind was not there. Her hands did not grip back when we held them. Nevertheless, I've been told that hearing is the last thing to go, and we were able to say plenty of things to her, sing to her, and pray for her.

Thankfully, Mom had been responsive and conversational the previous day during my visit and last weekend when Gayle visited. However, Mom had told me she was starting to have delusions, although she said she could still tell the difference between the delusions and the dreams, and she gave me examples that proved that.

As I stood in the doorway right before I left Tuesday afternoon, she looked above me (I'm 6'6") and must have seen something, because she said, "Whoa." It may have been the only time in my life I ever heard her make an exclamation like that.

Her funeral service will be held Monday morning in our hometown of Greensburg PA.

Yes, this is bittersweet news, but it's far more sweet than bitter. We'll miss our mother, but we know she has gone on to be with other family members whom she missed, including my dad, my oldest sister, Jeannine (who was very close to Mom and passed in 2002 at age 48), and her own parents.

On Thursday afternoon, Gayle showed me a journal she'd found in which Mom had written a number of entries between late February and early March. Here's something she wrote on February 24:

"I was born into a family of saints; everyone has been so good to me. Thank you, God!"