Joan Jackson

We grew up in southeast Washington, D.C., in an area called Anacostia. And back during that time, it was, as a friend of mine used to say, it was like Sesame Street. Everyone was close. Just about everyone's parent worked for the federal government.

We grew up in southeast Washington, D.C., in an area called Anacostia. And back during that time, it was, as a friend of mine used to say, it was like Sesame Street. Everyone was close. Just about everyone's parent worked for the federal government.

Joe never called in sick in 15 years, and he was a hard worker. He worked just like my dad, and a lot of them started off taking mail door to door. But then he ended up working these really huge machines

Joe never called in sick in 15 years, and he was a hard worker. He worked just like my dad, and a lot of them started off taking mail door to door. But then he ended up working these really huge machines

I spoke to Joe on the phone. I said, Joe, please be careful. Please be careful. I don't know... I don't know whether it was intuitive on my part or what. And he said, I will. I'll be careful. No, don't worry. It'll be fine.

I spoke to Joe on the phone. I said, Joe, please be careful. Please be careful. I don't know... I don't know whether it was intuitive on my part or what. And he said, I will. I'll be careful. No, don't worry. It'll be fine.

Celeste called and said that Joe was in the bed. He was sweating and his sweat drops were like the size of a quarter. He was sweating profusely, but he didn't want to go to the hospital. He was like, I'm fine, I'm fine. Joe has the day off.

Celeste called and said that Joe was in the bed. He was sweating and his sweat drops were like the size of a quarter. He was sweating profusely, but he didn't want to go to the hospital. He was like, I'm fine, I'm fine. Joe has the day off.

He passed out in church, and they stopped the Mass. They were going to call the paramedics.

He passed out in church, and they stopped the Mass. They were going to call the paramedics.

Celeste woke up and found Joe sprawled on the bathroom floor. And she called the paramedics, and they came and got him and rushed him to Southern Maryland Hospital.

Celeste woke up and found Joe sprawled on the bathroom floor. And she called the paramedics, and they came and got him and rushed him to Southern Maryland Hospital.

And something, I just had a feeling because I called the house, my parents' house, and I couldn't get a hold of them, couldn't get a hold of them. And finally, I got through and my mother said, Joe is dead. And I must have gone into shock or whatever. I'm like, what? And she said it was from anthrax.

And something, I just had a feeling because I called the house, my parents' house, and I couldn't get a hold of them, couldn't get a hold of them. And finally, I got through and my mother said, Joe is dead. And I must have gone into shock or whatever. I'm like, what? And she said it was from anthrax.

That was the first time I had ever seen my dad with tears in his eyes. It was difficult. It was very difficult. I felt I just wanted to close up and be away from people at that time.

That was the first time I had ever seen my dad with tears in his eyes. It was difficult. It was very difficult. I felt I just wanted to close up and be away from people at that time.

They shut down, you know, both houses immediately for that. Why? Why the postal workers were not immediately, you know, told to go home when there was even the threat of anthrax going through? I don't know. I think it's shameful. It's just happened. So, yeah.

They shut down, you know, both houses immediately for that. Why? Why the postal workers were not immediately, you know, told to go home when there was even the threat of anthrax going through? I don't know. I think it's shameful. It's just happened. So, yeah.

They had, you know, the little trucks that postal workers carry mailed to people's homes. They had a procession of them in front of the hearse to take... Joe to Mount Olivet Cemetery. And he's buried now with my sister and my mother and father.

They had, you know, the little trucks that postal workers carry mailed to people's homes. They had a procession of them in front of the hearse to take... Joe to Mount Olivet Cemetery. And he's buried now with my sister and my mother and father.

My family was devastated by it. I, of course, still feel the effects of it whenever it comes up.

My family was devastated by it. I, of course, still feel the effects of it whenever it comes up.

It's a tragedy. We never do anything in a vacuum. So whatever we do is going to affect someone else directly or indirectly.

It's a tragedy. We never do anything in a vacuum. So whatever we do is going to affect someone else directly or indirectly.