A local school crossing guard takes her final steps after 47 years
Ms. Jackson has been crossing generations of students from P.S. 307 for 47 years. It's a job she said came by accident.
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For almost 50 years, the Vinegar Hill neighborhood has had the same crossing guard for almost 50 years.
Ms. Willie Mae Jackson watched generations cross the streets every day, and now she's taking her last steps at work.
People in the neighborhood told her they are going to miss her very much as they said goodbye to her.
Fabian Montalvo, a student at P.S. 307, says she was his protector since he was 4 years old.
"It's just a bit nostalgic. I feel like she deserves to retire after all this. She's been crossing kids for all this time. It's just sad to see her go but I'm happy she has this now," said Montalvo.
Ms. Jackson has been crossing generations of students from P.S. 307 for 47 years. It's a job she said came by accident.
"My girlfriend said to me, 'Come go with me down to the precinct, I want to fill out a form to become a crossing guard,'" said. Ms. Jackson.
Little did she know what was in store for her.
"I filled it out and got the job and she didn't," said Ms. Jackson.
Now decades later, she's still here and became a hero. Everyone from the community came out to celebrate her retirement.
"My crossing guard, now my kids crossing guard. I'm glad they get to experience such an amazing, phenomenal woman, the sweetest person in the world," said Gloria Santiago.
"It was a pleasure Ms. Jackson, I love you to pieces," she says.
And as Ms. Jackson takes her last walk across York Street, she tells News 12 she's ready for her next chapter.
"Well sitting home relaxing that's what next for me. I'm going to come back and visit them i might come back and volunteer like they want me to," said Ms. Jackson.
