Rodi Jackson

Aurola "Rodi" Kegley Jackson age 81, died July 4, 2009. The daughter of the late Everette and Rebecca Kegley, she was born in Morehead, Ky. on October 18, 1927. She graduated from Morehead High School and Morehead State University. She earned her Masters Degree in Library Science from Wright State University, Dayton Ohio. For many years a devoted primary school teacher and librarian in the public schools of Dayton and Oakwood, Ohio, she was known by thousands for her work in teaching traditional Appalachian music, dance and culture, particularly for her work with the mountain dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, guitar, banjo and harmonica.

Rodi was a program coordinator and teacher in the Elderhostel programs throughout the Eastern seaboard including Morehead State University and the UK Leadership Center in Jabez, Ky. Rodi taught hundreds of elementary school children to clog mountain style and introduced them to the music of eastern Kentucky.

She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, George Wallace Jackson, her son Ron Jackson, ( Martha), two grandchildren, George Graham Jackson and Emma Keller Jackson, a sister Buna Sprague and a brother, Traylor Ekron Kegley. She was preceded in death by a sister, Correne Kegley.

The funeral service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, at Stith Funeral Home, Danville with Rev. Quentin Scholtz and Rev. Jerry Shepard. Visitation will be Monday after 5 to 8 p.m., at Stith Funeral Home, Danville and Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Lane-Stucky-Gray Funeral Home in Morehead.

A graveside service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Brown Cemetery, Morehead, Kentucky. Memorial donations are requested to the Centenary United Methodist Church.