The journey has been difficult, but this weekend is filled with celebration for Jacqueline Hall.   ///   Hall, who has been raising three children while working two jobs and going to school full time, graduated Saturday from Alcorn State University with a master’s in secondary school counseling.

“It was a promise to my grandma who passed in 2007, my grandma Anniebel Braxton,” Hall said of the reason she chose to continue her education.

While providing for her children — 17-year-od Kendarius Cooks, 14-year-old Mikeil Rader and 12-year-od Mikieia Rader — Hall has been working full time as a childcare provider at Cedars Head Start program and working a second job at T.J. Maxx. Her classes were at night in Lorman.

“The nights I didn’t go to school I worked. The nights I didn’t go to school I did work. In between that it was my daughter with her girl’s group and my son playing football,” Hall said. “Many times I almost gave up. I felt like it, but I didn’t stop. I kept going. I knew that was something my grandmamma would want me to do.”

Hall said she’s had troubles in the past and feared at one point that she would lose her children for good.

“My kids are my world. Just to say that I’m a parent that’s going through so much, this is a big accomplishment to me,” she said.

But the support of her co-workers, her family and her church family at Travelers Rest Baptist Church and thoughts of her grandmother helped her stay positive.

“Thank God I’ve had understanding children and positive people to help me. My oldest son has been a big help,” she said.

Cooks said he’s been glad to help see his mother achieve her dreams.

“I’m proud of my mom,” he said.

While his mother was working, Kendarius took care of his brother and sister, regularly made dinner and kept up with the house.

On Saturday, he woke the family up early to leave Vicksburg and beat the crowd down to Lorman for graduation.

“It helped me come up as a young adult. It helped me take on responsibility and learn how things are supposed to be done,” he said. “She taught me to never ever give up. That’s the best thing she’s ever told me.”

Hall plans to continue working at the Head Start program and said that her degree as a counselor would help her assist parents.

Hall was also one of the first in Vicksburg to take part in the National Assistance Corp. of American first-time homebuyer program.