Bailey W. Jackson III

Bailey W. Jackson accomplished a great deal in his life but the accomplishments of which he was most proud were his work in social justice as a faculty member and later dean of the School of Education at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst from 1991 to 2002; and above all, the privilege of raising his wonderful children, Marc Jackson (deceased), Glenn Jackson, Amber Jackson Terranova, and Maya Jackson Pellegrini. He is survived by his wife, Lenore Reilly, his beloved stepchildren Ashley, Caroline, and William Carlisle, along with twenty-six grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A champion of diversity and education reform as well an influential theorist in the areas of racial identity development and multicultural organizational development, he spoke widely on topics of social oppression and diversity and was valued for a warm and engaging style that won the admiration of decades of students and colleagues who join us in mourning him. He was a member of many educational associations, including The American Association for Higher Education the Association for Teacher Educators, the American Society for Training and Development and served on the Board of Directors for the National Training Laboratories Institute to address workplace inequity.

He was born on March 17, 1944 in Columbus, Ohio to Bailey W. Jackson II and Theodora Manning Jackson, and was the oldest brother of Glenn and Karen Jackson (deceased). Bailey died with his family by his side on a fittingly beautiful fall day that recalled cherished times on Block Island. As our granddaughter pointed out, “he was eight-one and a half, not just eighty-one.”

Calling hours will be held on November 21, 2025 from 4:00-7:00pm at the Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home.