Remembering Longtime Rotary Club of Birmingham Executive Director Susan Jackson

The impact Susan Jackson had on Rotary, locally and around the globe, is immeasurable.

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Susan West Jackson, who served as Executive Director of the Rotary Club of Birmingham (RCB) from 1998 to 2020. Following her retirement, she remained engaged in the club as an honorary member. The impact she had on Rotary, locally and around the globe, is immeasurable.

Susan served diligently for 22 years as Executive Director of RCB, one of the largest of the 35,000+ Rotary Clubs across the globe. Given the annual turnover of Rotary's leadership, Susan served as the stabilizing force guiding RCB's direction and accomplishments both locally and internationally. Among the many service projects during her tenure include: a cancer treatment clinic for women in Sri Lanka; Rotary International's efforts to eradicate polio across the globe; far-reaching community service programs that positively impacted students in Birmingham's city schools (from Pre-K to college prep); timely response to storm recovery efforts across the country; and continual support for those in need in our community. Perhaps the most impactful project Susan initiated is the Rotary Trail, where before there was blight and pollution and now there is nature and beauty in the very heart of our city and region.

A celebration of Susan's life will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m., at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Birmingham, AL.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Rotary Club of Birmingham Foundation, 2019 4th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203. Donations may also be made online at birminghamrotary.org/give, or to the Foundation at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church, 3736 Montrose Road, Birmingham, AL 35213. 

You may read about Susan's life at this link.

Upon her retirement in 2020, RCB honored Susan and her work with a bronze and Cor-ten sculpture on Rotary Trail created by artists Bradford Thomas Morton and Janice Kluge. The inscription accompanying "Susan's Birds" reads:

The bronze circle in the sculpture represents the earth and the hummingbirds, Susan's favorite bird, honor Susan circling the globe doing the work of Rotary and achieving good outcomes in pursuit of Rotary's moral code, The Four Way Test: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?