JANS – Shelby, MS resident Zakiyo Fields Jackson was recently recognized as a “Woman of Influence” in Sunflower County. Jackson is the Nursing Home Administrator of the Walter B. Crook Nursing Facility of the North Sunflower Medical Center. “I have been at the WBC for almost two years and I consider it one of the best places that I have worked,” stated Jackson.
A native of Indianola, Miss., Jackson is a 2003 graduate of the University of Mississippi where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in social work and a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. According to Jackson, she is licensed in social work and nursing home administration. “I have 11 years of experience in nursing home administration where I oversee the overall operation of the facility,” Jackson said. “I am committed to ensuring that the employees have great working environments and that the residents feel as if WBC is their home away from home.’’
“I truly love my job and the satisfaction that I get when interacting with clients,” said Jackson. “I have always had a penchant for working with people and my job as the Director of Social Services/Administration/Marketing at the Shelby Nursing and Rehab in Shelby affirmed my love for long term care.’’ In 2012, she was promoted to the Administrator-in-Training program.
Jackson is a recent graduate from the two-year American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) Diversity Executive Leadership Program, where the AHCA chairman, Phil Scalo, presented her with a certificate of achievement.
“In June of this year, I was proud to be among the over 600 post-acute care professionals who attended the AHCA/NCAL annual congressional briefing on Capitol Hill. We had the opportunity to meet with hundreds of Congressional members and staff to discuss local concerns and to discuss those topics that are so pressing for us in the Mississippi Delta and nationwide,” said Jackson. “In that there is an ongoing labor shortage in long term care, it was indeed a pleasure to have our national leaders listen to our concerns. Long term care is indeed a challenge; however, when I see the faces of our clients light up at the care being given, I know that my professional steps were ordered by God.’’
In addition to working full-time at the nursing facility, Jackson is a community servant who goes that extra mile in helping others. “Mrs. Jackson is actively involved in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Chi Mu Omega Chapter in Mound Bayou,” said Annie Y. Griffin, chapter president. “She is presently the recording secretary and either chairs or serves on numerous committees in the chapter.”
One important committee Jackson chairs is the chapter’s technology committee. “When a chapter member has a technological challenge, Jackson makes house calls. She does all of this after leaving her regular job,” commented DeVoyce C. Morris, a committee member. Because of her numerous chapter affiliations, she was voted as the Sister of the Year for the chapter and will compete for this award on the Southeastern Region level in February.
Jackson is married to G. Anthony Jackson, an educator in the North Bolivar Consolidated School District.
