On June 24, 1987, Dr. John Sidney Jackson, former mayor of Lakeland, Florida, died at the age of 65.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1921, Jackson was a surgeon and public official. He moved to Lakeland, Florida, where he became the city’s first African American surgeon. He later entered public service, becoming the first Black person elected to the Lakeland City Commission in 1968.
In 1973, Jackson was appointed as Lakeland’s mayor, becoming the city’s first Black mayor. During his time in office, he supported anti-discrimination ordinances and civil rights initiatives.
Jackson held degrees from Virginia State College and Meharry Medical College. His contributions to public health and municipal governance marked a significant period in Lakeland’s political history.
