Flowers and projected images on the stage in House of Hope Baptist Church in Chicago following the Public Homegoing of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. on Mar. 6, 2026
The Xavierite
On Friday, Mar. 6, the celebration of life ceremony for longtime civil rights activist, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., was held at the House of Hope Baptist Church (752 E. 114th St.) in Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood.
Jackson passed away on Feb. 17 after battling progressive supranuclear palsy–according to the statement released by the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, a nonprofit founded by Jackson in 1971, Jackson was surrounded by family when he passed away peacefully.
This ceremony, “The People’s Celebration at House of Hope,” was the second to last of the services held for Jackson, following services in Columbia, South Carolina on Mar. 2, and two days of lying in state at Rainbow/PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) headquarters (930 E. 50th St.) in Chicago on Feb. 26 and 27. The final was a private one held on Saturday, Mar. 8 at Rainbow/PUSH headquarters.
Many prominent political figures in the Democrat party attended the funeral, including three former U.S. presidents: Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton–other figures in attendance include Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago speaking at the public services for Rev. Jesse Jackson at the House of Hope Baptist Church on Mar. 6, 2026
The Xavierite
Many of the speeches centered around Jackson’s activism during the Civil Rights Movement, for LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as his two presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988.
Many of Jackson’s children and grandchildren gave speeches, including sons Jesse Jackson Jr. and Yusef Jackson, the latter of which became chief operating officer of Rainbow/PUSH in Apr. 2024.
Son of Jesse Jackson and chief operating officer of Rainbow/PUSH Yusef Jackson speaking during his father’s Public Homegoing at the House of Hope Baptist Church on Mar. 6, 2026
The Xavierite
All of the former presidents in attendance gave speeches, as well as former Vice President Harris.
Judge Greg Mathis, host of court television show Judge Mathis, a close friend of Jackson’s who spoke during the service, noted in an interview with The Xavierite that Jackson’s passing denotes a “goodbye to one era of civil rights, and a hello to a new era.”
Judge Greg Mathis speaking during the Homegoing service for Rev. Jesse Jackson at the House of Hope Baptist Church on Mar. 6, 2026
The Xavierite
Other speakers included the Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church (1210 W. 78th Pl.), Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Mayor Johnson, Gov. Pritzker, 43rd District of California House Rep. Maxine Waters, and others.
President of Colombia Gustavo Petro giving a speech in Spanish alongside an English translator during services for Rev. Jesse Jackson at the House of Hope Baptist Church on Mar. 6, 2026
The Xavierite
Multiple individuals sang solos or lead songs backed up by the choir–guest singers included singer Jennifer Hudson, Bishop Marvin Sapp, and Hezekiah Walker, who sang his original song “Every Praise,” among others.
Jennifer Hudson performing at the Homegoing ceremony for Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. at House of Hope Baptist Church on Mar. 6, 2026
The Xavierite
The service began around noon, and concluded shortly after 4 P.M. CST.
Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ (400 W. 95th St.) Rev. Otis Moss III, D.Min., speaking during the services for Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. at the House of Hope Baptist Church on Mar. 6, 2026
The Xavierite
**Correction: “in Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood” added to the end of paragraph 1**