Bernard Jackson was born on October 28, 1945, to Mary Jackson and Richard Ray in Richardville, Oklahoma. Bernard attended Douglas grade school where he went on to Checotah Jr High and then graduated from Peirce High School in 1963.

After the passing of his mother Mary Jackson on May 11, 1958 (Mother's Day) at a young age, he went on to live with his great Grandmother Alice Gardner in Checotah. Unfortunately, Mrs. Gardner passed away in November of 1961 just a couple of years after Bernard came to live with her. He asked to live with his Great-Auntie Leona (Lee) McNac Horton and his Great-Uncle Andrew Horton Sr. He was adopted into the Horton family where he gained an extended family with ten additional brothers and four sisters. He joined Mount Olive Baptist Church shortly after joining the Horton family.

Bernard joined the United States Air Force on 10 July 1963 at the young age of 18. He would go on to pursue a career making it to the rank of E7/MSGT. He served in Vietnam and earned The Distinguished Flying Cross as well as multiple Air Medals. He met Martha Jackson in California, and they married on June 1st, 1974. He was then transferred to Tinker Air Force Base where he retired 31 March 1984 and moved his family to Checotah, Oklahoma where he resided until death. He worked at the Jack C. Montgomery as a pharmacy technician until his second retirement in 1995. He stayed busy by farming on his plot of land until he became a voluntary fireman on the Onapa and FAIC fire departments. He loved to help people in need and was willing to give the shirt off his back when needed. He made many friends within the community and eventually became the Fire Chief for the FAIC department until he could no longer participate.

After the death of Martha Jackson on 29 March 2024, Bernard's health had unfortunately declined rapidly. He sure did miss Marty and loved her even though he drove her crazy most of the time. He took his final breath on 31 July 2024 around his family and friends.  Bernard was preceded in death by his loving wife Martha Jackson, Mary Jackson (Daughter), His brothers Sam, Herbert, Fred (Oran), Charles, Andrew Jr, O.C., James, Donald, and Chuck and sisters Shirley, Leva and Marine. His survivors include his son Bernard Jackson Jr, sisters Patricia Thompson, Loretta Jackson, Alice Warrior, brother Dave Horton, stepdaughters Angel Keys, Kimberly Johnson, Michelle Thompson to include multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren

A Celebration of Life for Mr. Bernard William Jackson will be on Saturday, August 10, 2024, 11:00 a.m., Mt. Olive Star Missionary Baptist Church 413665 East 1080 Road, Checotah, OK; with Pastor Samuel Cunningham, eulogizing. Interment will follow in Warrior Cemetery, Pierce, OK. Visitation will be on Friday, August 9, 2024, 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., House of Winn Precious Memories Chapel, Muskogee, OK.

The family has been cared for by House of Winn-Muskogee.