ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Across the country, we mourn the loss of Civil Rights leader, Baptist Minister, and two-time presidential candidate, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, who passed away at 84-years-old. A man who’s activism has been felt across generations.

Arriving at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro in 1960 just months after students there launched sit-ins at a whites-only diner, Jesse Louis Jackson immersed himself in the blossoming Civil Rights Movement.

And by 1965, he joined the voting rights march Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led.

Following, Dr. King’s assassination in April 1968, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson would continue his fight bringing him to the Good Life city in the early 70s.

“Rev. Jackson came as a part of the voter registration movement because at that time he was transitioning from Operation Breadbasket into the PUSH Coalition — People United to Save Humanity. So Jesse was pushing that initiative," Frank Wilson, Albany historian said. “He came to Albany for another voter registration campaign and being my good frat brother, we never let a Bruh come to town without giving them a pin. At that time I was Baselius of the chapter here, he was at Albany State and we were on program to pin him.”

Wilson says moments like this are the reason that we recognize, celebrate, and study Black History.

“I think it is important because a lot of the work that Jessie and others did, like Hosea Williams. It’s not in books. And the more folk are beginning to try to distort and destroy our history, storytellers like myself and others in town. It’s important that we tell these stories as often as we can because they are an important part of the fabric not only for Black Americans but for America.”

Despite profound health challenges in his final years including a rare neurological disorder that affected his ability to move and speak, Rev. Jesse Jackson continued protesting against racial injustice across the country, and decades of activism that tie to Albany.

“Albanians don’t always appreciate the value of the history of Albany and what I often try to stress. There is a tremendous history in Albany that has nothing to do with the Albany movement. No doubt the Albany movement was a key part of Albany but there are some historic factors that you never hear about,” Wilson said.

A historical imprint left by Rev. Jackson across the nation and here in Southwest Georgia.

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