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The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) mourns the loss of Bishop Reginald Jackson, who passed away on Nov. 25, 2025, at the age of 71. Bishop Jackson was the 132nd bishop elected to the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, and, in 2024, he became the Presiding Prelate of the Church’s Second Episcopal District, which covers churches in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia. He also previously served as Bishop of the Twentieth Episcopal District, which is composed of churches in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Uganda, and the Sixth Episcopal District, which consists of over 500 churches in Georgia.
Bishop Jackson was a devoted spiritual leader and committed lifetime civil rights and racial justice advocate. As a longtime LDF client during the organization’s early challenges to Georgia’s voter suppression laws, he lent his moral authority and leadership to ensuring that Black Georgians had the freedom and opportunity to vote. Bishop Jackson’s steadfast efforts helped rally faith communities and civil rights supporters around the cause of fair representation.
“We mourn the loss of Bishop Reginald Jackson, an abiding servant-leader in the advancement of civil rights and an extraordinary force of faith and justice in Georgia and far beyond,” said LDF President and Director-Counsel Janai Nelson. “Bishop Jackson’s leadership during LDF’s early fight against voter suppression helped protect the fundamental right to vote for countless Black Georgians. His faith, his voice, and his unshakable commitment to racial justice strengthened our democracy. We honor his legacy and remain committed to carrying forward the work he championed.”
