Obituary: Gail Jackson, Malden Native, Jazz Singer

The following is from Weir-MacCuish Golden Rule Funeral Home.

Gail Elizabeth Jackson, born on Aug. 13, 1938, lost her battle with lung cancer at the Leonard Florence Center in Chelsea on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015.

Her personal mantra was, “Live, Love, Laugh.” Gail was born in Malden, the oldest child of Councilman Herbert L. Jackson and Doris Pope Jackson. She spent many summers in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard. As a young woman, Gail worked at Shearer Cottage, the historic family-owned inn.

Gail Jackson attended Malden Public Schools. She was very active at Malden High School, belonging to several clubs, performing in school plays and serving as vice president of her sophomore class and president of her junior class.

She graduated from Lasell College in Newton in 1958 with an Associate’s Degree in Retailing. Gail was known at Lasell College for her wit, kindness and extraordinary voice.

After graduation, Gail worked briefly in retail followed by several years at Pan American Airlines, traveling extensively. She then achieved her long-held ambition to become a jazz singer and performed under the stage name of Gail Loring in night clubs in Boston, on Martha’s Vineyard, in New York City and in Los Angeles. Later in her musical career, Gail was an entertainer on Princess Cruise Lines, cruising and singing throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. After retiring from performing, Gail Jackson returned to Malden, the place of her birth.

She is survived by her sister Lee Jackson Van Allen, her brother Herbert L. Jackson, Jr. and several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Weir-MacCuish Golden Rule Funeral Home, 144 Salem St. in Malden with visitation on Wednesday, Jan. 7, from 4-8 p.m. and a funeral on Thursday, Jan. 8, at noon.

According to Gail Jackson’s wishes, she donated her brain to the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center for Parkinson’s Disease. She was cremated at Woodlawn Crematory in Everett. Her ashes will be scattered on Martha’s Vineyard.