Lawrence O. Jackson III

Lawrence “Larry” Odell Jackson III, the son of Leslie G. Rienzie-Barry and Lawrence Odell Jackson Jr. was born on October 11, 1978, at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City.  Larry was the only child to both parents.  His mom often teased, and frequently reminded him about being born on Yom Kippur and the month the Yankees won the World Series. In fact, each birthday his mom shared the enduring story with him.  Leslie’s job transferred her and Larry to Chicago when he was just six (6) months old.  

Larry was baptized at St. Pascal Baylon Catholic Church in Jamaica, Queens.  He received his first holy communion and confirmation at St. Martin De Porres Catholic Church in Columbia, South Carolina.

Larry attended Lake Shore Academy School in Chicago before moving to San Antonio, Texas.  Two years later, Larry and Leslie relocated back to Chicago.  Larry was given the opportunity to move to Columbia, South Carolina.  He often recounted that experience as one of the best times of his life.  He cherished, sharing a home with his grandparents and cousins within his same age group solidifying an unbreakable bond.  He valued the experience of living in the south and, witnessing hurricane Hugo with Grandma Jane and his cousins.   Larry attended middle school in Columbia, SC, and Darien, IL. His love of sports moved he and his mom Leslie to Oak Park or, as he would fondly say, closer to the “westside”. He played high school basketball for Oak Park where he met his lifelong friends.  He would often sneak to the westside to play basketball in the parks, for a fuller experience of the game.  He graduated from Farragut High School. The exposure to his peers, and his intense dedication to the game led to a scholarship to play basketball for The University of Texas.  He excelled and made the All-Freshman Team and later All Conference. 

Larry was a kindhearted and fun-loving person.  He enjoyed life, loved his family and told everyone how much he was in love with Susie, affectionately called “Susie Q”.  He loved to travel.  The many trips he shared will serve as great memories for Susie, and their friends.  He was a loyal friend who showed unyielding support.  He loved kickin’ it with his son LJ and his baby girl, Laila. He especially loved going to basketball games with his mom where infectious laughter and spirited debates ensued over the players and respective teams.  Family and close friends were everything to him.  He spent hours on the phone in pursuit of owning a business, travel considerations and a myriad of discussion on another one of his loves, hip hop.

Larry was a very compassionate person. He served the community quietly by giving clothes to transients. He also loved dogs and showed immense compassion for strays.  Occasionally he brought stray dogs’ home. Anyone who knew Larry knew his love for the Pitbull breed to which he owned many; Smokey, Cane, Shadow, Juney, Prissy, Bonnie, Cassius, Poncho, Coco, Chapo and Grizzy, of which many are tattooed on him.

Larry loved putting model cars, tanks, and big rig trucks together. He would spend hours, at times full nights, working on model projects until they were complete.  He would tell his mom that he was going to drive a big truck one day. The day he took the CDL test, he was elated.  He passed on the first try.  He couldn’t wait to get on the road.  He landed a truck driving job over the road the first week.  It didn’t stop there.  He met Tom Golebiowski who owns Zawada Transport.  He loved this job. He admired the way Tom ran his business and wanted Tom to mentor him with starting his own trucking company.  He enlisted the help of his cousin Mercedes and started a trucking company, on June 29, 2021, named after his grandparents, “Louis Jane Trucking, LLC”.  Larry was in awe with the trucking industry.  He talked about people he met, the brotherhood of truckers over the road, and the many different places he got to visit.  He would take videos of the scenery or even the accidents or snowstorms he encountered and send them to family.  He took Grizzy with him on most trips.  He wanted to take Laila, but she wasn’t having it.  Leslie wanted to go, but Larry wasn’t having that.  Over the past three years, this job afforded him the opportunity to spend time with so many family members and friends in New York, Texas, Virginia, Boston and around the country.  He would send pictures and videos to family members, and friends of his trips.

Larry departed this life on Saturday, November 26, 2022.  He leaves to cherish; his parents, Leslie and Larry, his two children; Lawrence O. Jackson IV, and Laila G. Jackson, Susie Youkhana (his longtime girlfriend), his grandma Jane, Auntie Teri, Jackie and Mae, Uncles Kenny, Cece, Steve, and Michael.  He will miss his special cousins, Tawann, Wayne, Mercedes, Earl and Adam, and all his cousins, his best friends; Claude (mother of his children) Eddie (Carnita), and Bryan, as well as His “boys”, as he would call them; SteveO, Moe, Brandon, ShannO, and all the Oak Park Crew, as well as the University of Texas Basketball crew, especially Shannon, Jaron, and his special buddy, Martin.    

Rest in Peace!

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lawrence O. Jackson III, please visit our floral store.