Obituary of Jacqueline Poret Alston

ROCHESTER, NY – May 20, 2024 The celebration in the life of Jacqueline Poret Alston Jacqueline Poret Alston (Jackie) was born on December 22, 1944 to the union of Allen Moses Poret and Azalie Smith Poret in New Orleans, Louisanna. Jackie departed her earthly life on Monday, May 20, 2024. Before joining family members in Rochester, NY, Jackie attended Sylvania F. Williams Elementary and Woodrow Wilson School in New Orleans. Jackie was just fifteen years old when she came to Rochester. In Rochester, NY she would attend Madison High School, but would later earn her high school diploma from East Evening High School. After high school she worked a short time at Saint Ann’s, before going to work for a company named Taylor Instrument. To increase her opportunity for better employment, she would soon enroll in the Advance Clerical Training (ACT) Program at the Urban League in 1970. Upon completion of the program, Jackie gainfully found employment at Xerox Corporation where she held numerous clerical positions from accounts receivable to computer programming. Jackie would work at Xerox shy of 20 years before leaving to try her hands at an entrepreneurial experience, operating a small neighborhood market in the Cornhill District. Later, she would join Rochester City School District (RCSD) as a Paraprofessional until around 1992. In the same year (1992), she relocated to Stone Mountain, Georgia where she worked for a subsidiary of IBM. Jackie spent several years in Georgia, before returning to Rochester and retiring from the Rochester City School District as a Teacher’s Assistant. She officially became a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses after baptism in 2017. Jackie passionately enjoyed playing baseball ever season on the company team at Xerox with fellow coworkers. She was really good at it, earning the nickname Allstar from coworkers. She enjoyed sewing, baking, working in her yard and browsing yard sales near and far. You could quite often find her conversating for long hours over the phone and facebooking with family and friends. Jackie was a hard worker and was committed to seeing through whatever task until it was completed. She was very passionate and enjoy life immensely, never backing down to a formal challenge of any kind. She was strong, sometimes, to strong. She was brave and courageous. She had high exceptions of herself and those closest to her. She was our SHERO. Her shoes will be huge to follow in, but we’ll do our best. She will dearly be missed, but she’s now in the bosom of God. No more battle or suffering, peace for eternity. May you rest in peace, MOM. Preceding her in death was her late husband, Joseph Nathen Alston; her father, Allen Moses Poret; her mother, Azalie Smith Poret; six brothers, Clifton, Allen, Clyde, Marvin, Clarence, Lynn Roy Poret; three sisters; Delores Hart, Doris Jackson and Josie Lucky. Jackie leaves behind to cherish her memory four children: Michelle Molefe, Michael Bennett, Alfreda Bennett and Karen Crosby (Mark Anthony Crosby) all of Rochester, NY and four children she gained from her marriage: Lonzo Taylor, Sandra Henry (predeceased), Nathaniel Alston (Davetta Alston), and Joseph Washington also of Rochester, NY. A special daughter, Tashara Jackson of Rochester, NY. Jackie has one surviving sister, Lorraine Lawson of Rochester, NY to cherish her memory, a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, nephews, nieces and friends. Friends may call Monday, June 3 from 10:00 – 12:00 PM at The Latimer Chapel, 983 South Plymouth Avenue, Rochester, NY. The Funeral Service to Celebrate her life will immediately follow at 12 Noon. Interment Mt. Hope Cemetery, Rochester, NY.