Funeral services for Thomas Edward Jackson IV, 37, of Nashville, Tenn., were held Jan. 30, at First African Baptist Church in Bainbridge, Ga., with the Rev. J.C. Jackson officiating.

Interment was in Jonas Lobe Cemetery with the Class of the 1992 football team acting as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were from Tennessee State University.

Mr. Jackson was born May 17, 1973, in Bainbridge and died Jan. 23, 2011, in Tennessee. He grew up in Bainbridge and was an outstanding linebacker at Bainbridge High School from 1988-1992. After high school graduation he went to Nashville where he earned a football scholarship at Tennessee State University from 1992-1997, at which time he was ranked in the top 100 in the nation as a linebacker. He majored in natural science and earned a bachelor of science in 1997.

Following his college graduation he played arena football for the Nashville Storm and worked as a substitute teacher in the Nashville Public Schools. He was also employed by Ajax Turner Company, Eckerd Drugs and Walgreens where he was an assistant store manager.

Survivors include his parents, Thomas E. Jackson and Deloris Moore Jackson; his wife, Lavada Johns; a son, Thomas E. Jackson V.; grandparents, Thomas E. Jackson and Gladys Snell; Clarence and Grace Moore of Savannah; brothers, Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson and George Thomas of Nashville, and a stepsister, Peggy Moore.

Bruton Mortuary was in charge of the arrangements.