William "Jack" Jackson Denmark, Jr.

William Jackson Denmark, Jr. (Jack) was born in Blue Ridge, GA, on November 26, 1930 to William Jackson, Sr. and Nita (Franklin) Denmark. He spent his childhood years between Statesboro, Savannah and Tybee Island, GA.

As a senior in high school, Jack gave his life to the Lord Jesus through the efforts of Mr. R.C. Johnson, an area pastor who picked him and his siblings up for Sunday School and church and shared the gospel with him for the first time. Shortly thereafter, Jack was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Germany during the Korean War. Upon his return, he attended the University of Georgia School of Pharmacy, during which time he also attended Prince Avenue Baptist Church in Athens. It was there that he met Norma Jean Graham, and they were united in marriage on September 4, 1954.

 Jack then became a pharmacist in Savannah, GA, where his first three children, Mary Anita, William Jackson III (Denny), and Paula Ann, were born. In 1960, he and Norma moved to Glennville, GA, where Jack took ownership of a local pharmacy and where their last daughter, Norma Serena, was born.

 While attending First Baptist Church of Glennville as nominal Christians, first Norma and then Jack made a full surrender of their lives to the Lord. They felt God’s call on their lives to the mission field in Zambia, Africa, the next year.

 Jack and Norma served as missionaries in Zambia over the course of the next 30 years, 17 actively, where, by their own admission, the Lord worked in them more than through them. Serving through Africa Evangelical Fellowship for the first five years, subsequent terms were served through various organizations, including as a pharmacist with the copper mines, through Christian Fellowship of Zambia, as well as their final eight years through Living Stones International, an NGO Jack and Norma founded in the country.

 During their interim years, the couple moved many times as the Lord led, providing for their needs through many of their brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ. In Georgia they were blessed through members of Ferguson Avenue Baptist Church; in Capernwray, England, they were taught by great men of the faith; in Anderson, SC, the saints of Anderson Christian Fellowship bolstered their faith; and in Greenwood, SC, the Body at Calvary Chapel became a second family that blessed Jack and Norma until their deaths. During their stints in the U.S., Jack worked as a pharmacist before retiring in 1982, prior to their last eight years in Zambia. 

In 2000, Jack and Norma retired from the mission field to Iva, SC at 9334 Abbeville Hwy., a home on 11 acres they had purchased 10 years prior and that was made habitable by many from the churches listed above, a display of love for which the couple was forever grateful. Following Norma’s death in 2016, Jack began attending First Creek Baptist Church up the hill from his home on Sunday evenings. That fellowship of believers became very dear to him, as well.

 Preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law Frank Harrison, and his wife, Jack lived the remainder of his years blessing others in his unique way, including through his collection of messages written to instruct and build up his Zambian brothers and sisters - “The Edifier” books; through the stories of God’s mighty deeds in his and Norma’s lives over the years - “Episodes Along the Way;” and through his many poems - “Rhyme with a Reason.” He is survived by his sister, Mary Jo (Frank) Harrison of Palmetto, GA; brother Robert (Doris) Denmark of Knoxville, TN; brother John (Barbara) Denmark of Statesboro, GA; daughter Anita Denmark of Palatine, IL; son Denny (Lai) Denmark of Carbondale, IL; daughter Paula (Tim) Paine of Ottawa, KS; daughter Serena Denmark of Las Vegas, NV; grandchildren Dustin Calhoun, Luke Calhoun, Audrey (Paine) Glavin, Olivia (Paine) Gruber, Ian Paine and Sarah Denmark; 10 great-grandchildren; two nephews and one niece.

Memorial services will be conducted Thursday July 3rd at 3:00 P.M. from Calvary Chapel with Pastor David Evans officiating. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Care of the Piedmont Hospice and Palliative, 408 W Alexander Ave. Greenwood, SC 29646.

Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the Denmark family.