Hundreds expected for funeral of Corbin Marine who died in Afghanistan

Less than year before his four-year enlistment in the U.S. Marine Corps was up, an improvised explosive device killed Lance Cpl. Timothy Matthew Jackson Thursday in Afghanistan.

The funeral is planned for Tuesday morning in his hometown of Corbin where he is being remembers as a man that always wanted to serve his country.
 

Jackson, 22, a 2007 Corbin High School graduate, joined the Marines right out of high school. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, which is based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The united was deployed to Afghanistan, working in the Helmand province, located in the southern part of the country.

"I was told he either stepped on or a vehicle he was driving got too close to an IED," said Col. Rick McClure, the Senior Army Instructor with the Corbin High School JROTC program. "Matt was a good kid. I am very sorry for his family. All he ever wanted to do when he graduated was join the Marines and serve his country and that’s what he did."

Kim Hamlin, who had Jackson in her Algebra I class when he was freshman, described Jackson as a good student who did not cause any problems in class.

"He was a quiet student in class but very sweet," Hamlin said. "He always did what was required of him."

Despite his reserved personality, Hamlin said Jackson enjoyed his time in JROTC.

"He took great pride in his JRTOC activities," Hamlin said. "And I know he was even more proud to be serving his country."
Officials at Hart Funeral Home said Jackson’s family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home on Master Street in Corbin.

The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Rev. Bobby Joe Eaton officiating.

Burial will follow at Wells Cemetery in Keavy.

Jackson’s mother, Jody Tonkin and his grandmother, Mary Jackson, said despite his quiet demeanor, Jackson was a good-natured man who got along with everyone.

"He respected everybody," Tonkin said. "He loved everybody."

"He never was in any trouble," Mary Jackson said. "He never gave us any trouble."

In his free time, the women said he played on his computer. He liked to go to the lake to fish and swim and enjoyed spending time with his brothers and his cousins.

"They were all real close," Mary Jackson said.

Tonkin said Jackson had a younger brother, Jerricho, 12, who idolized him and three older brothers.

Like the rest of the family, Tonkin said the brothers, especially Jerricho, are going through a wide range of emotions as they deal with Jackson’s death.

"He is angry, then upset," Tonkin said of Jerricho. "Just a whole lot of different emotions."

The women said Jackson’s decision to join the Marines made them anxious but they supported him because it was something he felt strongly about.

"I didn’t want him to go but it was his heart’s desire," Mary Jackson said.

"I thought he looked so handsome," Mary Jackson said when she saw Jackson in his dress blue uniform. "You could tell he was proud. He had that air about him. He had matured a whole lot."

Tonkin said she was surprised by the reactions she received from complete strangers when she pulled up somewhere in a car sporting stickers indicating Jackson’s service.

 "He was respected," Tonkin said. "I’ve got stickers on the back of the car saying, ‘Marine mom.’ Strangers look at me and say tell him I say, ‘thank you.’

He was as close to a perfect child as you could get."

Mary Jackson agreed.

"I’m just going to miss him," she said. "This has torn my heart out."

Jackson was married. He and his wife, Nicole, lived in North Carolina outside of Camp Lejeune.

Jackson’s four-year enlistment was scheduled to be up in July. Tonkin said he had not made a final decision, but believes he was leaning toward coming home and testing the job market.