125 Years of Family Serving Family – Jackee Black, services operations assistant, Fort Lee
One in a series honoring the Exchange’s 125 years of family serving family.
Jackee Black grew up around the PX at Fort Lee, not knowing she would one day return to give back to the company that meant so much to her childhood.
“I would come into the PX and shop with my mother, put stuff on layaway and have a ball with the sales,” said Jackee, now the Fort Lee services operations assistant. “I haven’t spent my whole career here, but I’ve always considered it home.”
Jackee Black has left her mark just about everywhere at Fort Lee: Burger King, Anthony’s Pizza, Robin Hood, Einstein Bros. Bagels and Subway. She now works in Services.
Jackee started at Burger King at Fort Lee in 1990, then moved to Hawaii in 1991 to work at the Aliamanu Burger King at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam before transitioning back to Fort Lee in 1994, where she has been ever since.
Her father, Retired Army Master Sgt. Will Davis Jr., introduced her to the PX at Fort Lee and gets his hair cut there to this day.
Jackee has left her mark just about everywhere at Fort Lee: Burger King, Anthony’s Pizza, Robin Hood, Einstein Bros. Bagels and Subway.
“I just always loved being involved with food operations,” she said. “I got promoted to foreman at Burger King, and from there I became a foreman at Anthony’s Pizza, Robin Hood and Taco John’s.”
Jackee was temporarily promoted to restaurant concept manager at Taco John’s while the food court manager deployed. It was during this time that she found another position in Services, and she has embraced it for 10 years.
“I’m a people person. You have to be one to be in Services,” she said. “During my time here I received my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and I became friends with so many others. The Exchange makes that kind of impression on you. Those relationships you cultivate last a lifetime.”
Jackee has faced her share of challenges during the past 10 years, too.
“I lost my mother, Minnie Louise Davis—my best friend—to stage four lung cancer, which she fought for 13 years. She never smoked a day in her life,” she said.
Jackee also was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis three years ago.
“There are times when it gets tough for me, but I will be OK,” she said. “I know our Soldiers also face some tough times of their own, but I always let them know, ‘We Go Where You Go,’ and we always will.”
The experience she has gained during her career is priceless, Jackee said.
“While working in Services, I have gained a lot of friends and customers. I even received the Operation Call Out letter from (former) Chief Operating Officer Dave Nelson,” she said. “I do mingle with the PX to assist with fashion shows and back-to-school events. I even helped with the Washington Football Team sports promotion event, but I’m a true Dallas Cowboys fan, so that required some patience.”
She said she has no idea how she became such a rabid Cowboys fan.
“I don’t know, really. I just remember watching them play as a kid,” Jackee said. “Maybe it’s the blue star.”
