Nettie Walker was born and raised in Louisville, MS. She graduated in 1961 from Noxapater High School. She migrated to Omaha, NE in 1962 and married a military man, Lylton ‘Jack’ B. Jackson in December 1965. He was moved to New York for one year until he was sent to Vietnam 1967 – 68.
Nettie attended Skadron College of Business, San Bernardino, CA. graduating in 1968. After her husband returned from Vietnam, they moved to Montgomery AL during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. She became the first African American to integrate Phoenix Furniture Store as a salesperson. It was during the time when African Americans had to go to the back to pay their bills. She could only sale small items which because of racism kept her from receiving large commissions. Eventually, all the African American wanted her to wait on them as support to her. The people in Montgomery County were very united and they were very happy to see me on that job. The manager and other whites were upset by that. She worked there one year and made good money before her husband was assigned to Hampton, VA. They also spent 3 years in Ramstein, Germany 1973-76. Then they were stationed in Great Falls, MT. She worked for Montgomery Ward’s there and continued that employment for 25 years. She worked there while in Hampton and Woodbridge, VA. After Montgomery Ward’s closed, she finished her career as a sale’s consultant for Thomasville Furniture Company. Nettie and her husband are retired and have lived in Woodbridge, VA for 34 years. They are the parents of two sons: Darren and Darryl Jackson. They have 5 grandchildren.
