Sunflower County Girl Kiki Jackson Brings her Passion to Walter B Crook Nursing Facility

Zakiyo “Kiki” Jackson started her social work career focused on teens, and her grandmother gave her some good advice that changed her path and eventually led her to North Sunflower Medical Center as one of our valued new leaders.
 
This summer, Kiki Jackson joined the Walter B. Crook Nursing Facility as administrator.
 
She brings 15 years of experience in long-term care and aims to make life fun for the residents.

She’s a natural party planner and is already lining up Southeastern Conference tailgate parties for the football fan residents this fall. She’s adding flair to the décor.
 
But it all started at the University of Mississippi, where Kiki studied psychology and social work.
She knew she wanted to help people. Her mom worked as a dental assistant in Mound Bayou, and her older sister was a nurse.
 
She first used her degree in a job with teens. “I told my grandmother, `With these kids, it’s so hard for me to make a difference.’ My grandmother told me, `You need to be working with the old people. You are great with old people like me!”
 
So Kiki changed directions, working in long-term care and then in long-term care management. Along the way, she collected many awards and accolades.
 
When NSMC reached out this year about joining us, she was ready to come home.
 
“I am from Sunflower County, grew up in Indianola, and graduated from Gentry High. I’m a Sunflower County girl, first and foremost,” she says. “I’ve always had a high respect for NSMC and the quality of services they provide. It was a no-brainer to move here!”

In her first two months, she found just what she expected.
 
“The staff here, they care so much. They love the residents like they are their family. You don’t get that everywhere,” she says. “NSMC is extremely passionate about ensuring that the citizens of Sunflower County have quality health care in their homes and here in our facilities. You can see it as a patient. When you work here, you really get to see it.”
 
She said her husband, Gregory, “supports my calling to work with the elderly” and even volunteers to help. Kiki also stays busy with church and community events and her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.
 
Everywhere she goes, she fights misinformation about long-term care facilities.
 
“When people think of retirement homes, they think that people just go there to be until they die. That’s not true. We provide people with new ways to live. Our residents have access to so much here in this facility. They eat wonderful soul food – that they don’t have to cook! We have so many different activities and options.”
 
“Families may worry they are throwing the care of their loved ones to someone else. Instead, they care about their loved ones so much that they are getting them the care they need,” Kiki says.
 
For more information about the Walter B. Crook Nursing Facility, call 662-756-1605 or visit https://northsunflower.com/services/walter-b-crook-nursing-facility.