Audrey Jackson-Sledge

OBITUARY/EULOGY OF AUDREY JACKSON-SLEDGE
Sunrise - June 26, 1965 | Sunset May 26, 2026
The songwriter says – “What a friend We have in Jesus”. “What

a friend we have Indeed.”

With heavy hearts, we remember and honour the life of Audrey
Jackson-Sledge, a precious and gracious soul whose kind-hearted
spirit, caring and warm personality and selfless love resonated a
tremendous impact on many lives.
A gracious gift from God, Audrey was home-born in Lancaster
District, South Manchester, Jamaica, West Indies on June 26, 1965
to mother Valorie Burrell and father Joseph Clarke. Audrey was
the eldest daughter of four beautiful girls – (middle sister Debbie
and younger twin sisters Janette and Maxine (aka Shelley and
Shana)).
Audrey attended at Frankfield Primary school in Manchester,
Jamaica, West Indies and Bethabra Primary school in Manchester,
Jamaica, West Indies, before later immigrating to Vancouver, BC,
Canada with her mother Valorie Burrell and other sisters. She
would attend at General Brock Elementary School, Vancouver, BC,
Canada, and then graduate from John Oliver Secondary High
School, Vancouver, BC, Canada. She would later attend at various
educational facilities including studies in business and customer
service-related fields - attending at San Diego City College, San
Diego, California - majoring in accounting, and also attending at the
American Business College in El Cajon, CA.
With Audrey’s love and care for children, Audrey would establish her
own child care business (Jackson Navy Family Daycare, San Diego, CA)
and provide exceptional childcare for Military personnel throughout
many years. She would go above and beyond, providing a warm,
safe, loving, and protective home with love. All of Aunty Audrey’s

“kids” that she cared for and helped raised, and their parents would
still keep in touch and remain friends present.
Audrey then proudly and loyally pursued work in the customer
service industry starting at the Hudson Bay Company, Canada, and
then pursued work in the Airline industry. With her hands on
training, keeping up Airport protocol, regulating licensing and
standards, Audrey managed to find her niche, working at various
Airlines both at the San Diego International Airport, San Diego, CA,
and at the Sea Tac International Airport, Seattle, WA, including:
Horizon Airlines (Sea Tac International Airport), Aircraft Services
International (San Diego International Airport), and Shakers
Express (San Diego International Airport).
Her outgoing, glowing and caring personality and love for people
brought her working fully committed and grounded with
American Airlines (San Diego International Airport) as a Customer
Service Care Agent – fulfilling many tasks (Ramp, Baggage
Services, Gate Agent etc.) for over 20+ Years, where she was
recognized with distinction and awarded for her many years of
service, dedication and loyalty. Audrey’s would go on to receive
recognition including various certificates, awards and bonuses for
her outstanding work within the various airline industries. She
would also receive collectively numerous Navy Wives of America
Acknowledgment Awards, and numerous United States Navy
Certificates of Appreciation.
Audrey would be blessed with one son - Dewayne Jackson - whom
she treasured dearly. She would marry her former husband
Kenneth Jackson forming a union of 10 great years, and then
remain good friends following and present. They had resided in
San Diego, California where Kenneth was based in the United
States Military.
Following that union, Audrey would meet and marry her current
loving and caring husband of 29 years - United States Military
Services Retired Veteran Barron Sledge, their family residing

throughout many beautiful years together both in Bremerton,
Washington, and settling in San Diego, California present. Barron
and Audrey spent many phenomenal loving years together, with
remarkable memories.
Audrey was big on family! Her love was transparent. She bonded
and cared so well with all of her sisters deeply, her cousins
(mostly Abigail), aunts, uncles and various other family members.
Apart from her own Jackson-Sledge family, regardless of where
she lived, she loved to visit, travel and looked forward to her
many trips. She made it a point to visit her family members and
friends both in Canada and Jamaica mainly (amongst numerous
other places). She loved visiting Jamaica and Canada. She always
had a fantastic time and was very exuberant.
If you knew Audrey, you knew love, how to be genuine, and
kindness. You knew care, thoughtfulness and loyalty. Audrey was
kind-spirited, beautiful yet sensitive, Fierce and strong, yet Jovial.
She held onto faith, she loved good music – gospel - she loved a
good church service, prayer and ceremonies, she loved Reggae,
Dancehall, Lovers Rock, Soca, RNB, and many other genres.
Audrey loved to have a great time and hold a good vibe and it
always radiated on her. If there was an event or occasion going
on, Audrey was planning and did her best to ensure she was
present and making it!
Audrey was always uplifting – even in times of despair. She had a
quality of noticing a person who was in need, wanted to know
what was wrong, listened and always wanted to find a way to help
out or find a solution. She was passionate about caring for
children, seniors, people in general including the less fortunate,
and just helping out with anything/anyone in general where
possible. She worked hard and would make things happen. The
affection she inspired was always genuine and lasting, a
testament to the way she lived her life and she always left a
lasting impression.

Of her many passions for caring Audrey would start a legacy in
2012 as the founder of the Jackson-Sledge Backpack Foundation
where she would fundraise, and purchase well needed backpacks,
school supplies, clothing and food items etc., for the children and
seniors in Jamaica in the community. She would travel to Jamaica
sometimes two to three times per year – with family and friends
assisting to visit the schools/community and distribute. She never
forgot where she was coming from and always gave back, and
always found a way to make this legacy happen. She loved doing
what she did and it bought her so much happiness and comfort.
Her young nephew Oshae Hawkins who had attended with her on
occasion of one of the trips to Jamaica to assist was incredibly
humbled by the experience and dedication that Audrey
committed.
More recently from the catastrophic damage to Jamaica from
Hurricane Melissa, Audrey with the kind-caring heart she
possessed, felt a sense of duty to help and would lead to organize
her mission of sending numerous barrels/containers to Jamaica
containing relief supplies, food, clothing, non-perishable items
and medical supplies to help assist with the badly affected
communities that were in need and at a loss. She arranged for
generators to be shipped from San Diego to provide
light/electricity.
With the assistance of family and friends – her mother Valorie,
sister Shelley, son Dewayne and other family & friends, she made
the trip to Jamaica to distribute those supplies to the well needed
on Mother’s Day – Sunday, May 10, 2026. She also arranged to
have some chickens/food prepared and worked with an
organization in Jamaica called “Blessings Have to Flow” to obtain
and help deliver food, clothing and supplies to those in need
including seniors, “shut-ins” and the homeless. She had just
returned a few weeks back from her trip to Jamaica before her
untimely passing. Sunday, May 10, 2026. Mother’s Day was the

last day Audrey gave supplies out in Jamaica. This journey made
her so exultant and she made everyone incredibly proud!
Additionally, right here in San Diego, CA, on numerous occasions
and at numerous sites, Audrey alongside various family members
and friends, would religiously endeavor to make it a point to
provide meals and beverages, and attend in person at various
sites to feed the homeless in San Diego.
In her down time, Audrey loved watching a good game or show –
she loved gatherings, good company, watching football with her
husband and son - (she was a Steelers fan like her husband Barron
and a Green Bay Packers fan like her son Dewayne). She loved
watching soap operas – Both her and Barron loved watching the
Young and the Restless, watching Survivor, and listening to War of
the Roses on the radio amongst other things. She would always
reach out to family to debrief and sometimes spill the tea!
Audrey also loved eating good food! Eating a good ribeye, salt
mackerel, dumpling and banana or Red Snapper fish – some which
she would look forward to having in Vancouver, BC, Canada
(placing her order with her family in Canada in advance and also
calling her cousin in Jamaica).
Audrey radiated beauty, tenderness, elegance, and always
composed herself. She was jokingly funny at times, yet fragile in
her feelings as anyone could be when feeling away… (she would
let you know she wanted a little talk with you if her feelings were
hurt). She was strong, fierce, bold like a lioness when necessary –
protecting her cub, and boy could she hustle or bargain - about
terms, money, right from wrong etc. She could easily ask you to
buy her lunch or for a gift and you would comply because she was
Audrey! She was even often lucky and blessed, and loved to call
“Bingo” clear and loud when she won.
Audrey could command attention, was vocal, and her character
would just warm a room, filling it with purpose, and it would give
you a sense of warmth, love, and perfect ambiance. She was a

gem, that rare diamond you find - priceless - qualities and traits
that only a few hold…. straightforward and genuine, truth and
realness. Royal let Loyal.
Today we remember her for the gift of her life and her legacy -
with gratitude. For the many lives she blessed and generations
she touched we give thanks. We honour her for her story, her
love, her strength, her challenges, and her fight.
We remember her kindness, unwavering faith, devotion to family,
love for children and people, loyal friendships, thoughtfulness and
care for others, and her ability to find joy and fun in life. We
learn from her mentorship on how to live good, think about
others, be kind and do great deeds.
May her journey to the mansion be great. And the work that God
has brought her home to do be greater! May her angel wings be
wide and light and may she spread them and surround those
around the children and others in the heavens as she did here on
earth because heaven is about to receive one of the best and
most beautiful angels yet. You done know.
Gwan good, our strong, protective-kind-hearted sister, wonderful
mother, amazing and exemplary wife, beautiful daughter,
motherly aunt, caring niece, exceptional cousin, loyal friend. We
celebrate and will always love you. You did good here during your
time, and made us all proud.
You will forever be surrounded by love and upheld by the prayers
and support of many, and your legacy and memory like a flower
you were always blossoming, will forever grow and live on in the
hearts of all who knew and loved you. Thank you for some of the
most beautiful years, your humbleness, advice, kindness,
laughter, true friendship and time we had with you here.
We know you are here in Spirit, so - until we meet again. In Peace,
Warmth, Love and Light – Much Respect and 1 Love.

Psalms 23 (1-6): The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He
maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside
the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths
of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art
with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest
a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I

will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

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