American singer-songwriter TJ Jackson, son of the late Tito Jackson — the legendary musician and founding member of the iconic Jackson 5 — shared a deeply personal message as he remembered his father on the first anniversary of his passing.
Tito Jackson passed away on 15 September, 2024, at the age of 70, after suffering a heart attack while driving between New Mexico and Oklahoma. He was also part of the famous Jackson family, and a beloved brother to Jermaine, Marlon, Jackie, Michael, La Toya, Janet, Rebbie, Randy, Brandon, and Johvonnie Jackson.
In addition to TJ, Tito left behind three other children: Tariana Katherine, Taryll, and Taj Jackson.
Marking one year since that painful day, TJ took to Instagram to reflect on the profound impact of his father’s loss, expressing how deeply it has affected his life.
Struggling to find the right words to capture his grief, TJ shared the following heartfelt letter:
“Losing a parent is hard. One year ago my father passed away. It’s shaken my life up in so many ways I could have never predicted. One thing I have now learned is that when you lose your last parent a different kind of grief and instability sets in. Life can feel even more isolating as it pushes you to the next phase of maturity whether you’re ready or not. Nevertheless, as time continues to pass, I know the grief will slowly subside. But I also know from the loss of my mother that the grief will never completely go away. That’s the realness of it,” wrote TJ.
Grateful for the words spoken
Continuing his moving tribute, TJ also expressed how thankful he is for the moments they shared — especially for having had the chance to tell his father how much he loved him while he was still alive.
“I’m thankful that I constantly told my father I loved him and how grateful I was to have him as my father. His humility, his love for all, and his sense of humor are some things I will always remember and think of with a big smile,” wrote TJ.
‘Appreciate what you have before it’s gone’
As he brought his letter to a close, TJ left his readers with a heartfelt reminder — to never take life for granted and to make sure their loved ones know just how much they are cherished.
“For those of you who are reading this, remember how precious life is. Tell your loved ones you love them. Protect them and cherish them as much as you can today. Because one day (which will eventually come) they will transition on. I love you Pops. Always. Your youngest son,” wrote TJ.
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