Valerie Tanya Akins-Long

      Valerie Tanya (Jackson) Akins-Long was born March 28th, 1952 in Boston, MA to her late mother Earline Morris and her late father William Jackson Jr; her late stepfather Edward E. Morris stood by her beloved mother’s side in raising her. Valerie grew up amongst her siblings Loray Jackson White (Michael White), Sheldon “Buddy” Jackson (Pamela Jackson), Fern Jackson Seay and Michael A. Morris (Djenne Morris), and stepsisters Brenda and Ruth “Cookie” Morris, as well as many cousins, friends and a countless number of other relatives. Valerie is predeceased by her brother William “Sonny” Jackson III (and his late wife Deborah), and her late stepbrother Edward “Biddle” Morris.
      Valerie grew up in Roxbury, MA and went to school at the esteemed Girls Latin School from 1963-1969. Once graduating Girls Latin School she went to Northeastern University in Boston, MA, receiving her Associate's degree in Health Science. She then went on to Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene through a program with Tufts University and Northeastern from 1977-1980.
       Prior to beginning her career in dentistry she was married to the late David L. Akins Jr. in 1969, that same year Valerie gave birth to her first son Darrell Lawrence Akins. After their divorce she gave birth to her second son, Dru Lamar Akins in 1975, with Duke Norman. Valerie met Walter E. Long Jr in the 80s, in which she then gave birth to her 3rd son, Jonathan Peter Long in 1986, and remained together with Walter until God called him home on April 13, 2017.
Valerie worked as a Dental Hygienist for Whittier Street Health Center in Roxbury for over 35 years before she retired. Valerie loved to help others, and to be there for them in times of need. She met her best friend Sylvia Roman while working at Whittier Street Health Center and they remained great friends until the Lord called Valerie home.
       Valerie was a strong believer in Christ, her steadfast faith carried her through every obstacle in life. She was a member of Awaken Christian Church (ACC) under the tutelage of Pastors Phillip and Ingrid Tucker. She would attend weekly Sunday service, as well as the weekly Thursday Bible Studies up until she had two strokes on February 16th, 2022. As a result of her strokes, she was diagnosed with paralysis on the left side of her body, losing her mobility, and independence. Luckily she was able to use her dominant right hand to be able to still wave her bible in the air, and praise him like she just didn’t care with her son Jonathan and ACC family, when he would attend service with her at various facilities she stayed in, or when she came to church in person.
       The paralysis did not stop Valerie from living a blessed life, as she was still able to attend her son Jonathan and Ivy’s wedding on June 17th, 2023. Valerie always referred to Ivy as “the daughter she never had” and was grateful to still partake in the mother-son dance, a very joyous moment with not a dry eye in sight. Valerie loved watching TV, especially the Game Show Network, The Young and the Restless, and her favorite sports teams, the Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, and Patriots whenever they were on. If any of her favorite teams would lose, she would tell everyone, “They suck”. She also loved to cook until she became paralyzed. She made her signature lasagna, potato salad, meatloaf, and apple pie. Her favorite meal was fried chicken with potato salad or chicken broccoli ziti alfredo.
       Valerie was a loving mother, sister, grandmother (affectionately called “Nanny” to eight grandchildren Djaidah, Dezyre, Keohn, Demi, Darrell Jr., Dru, and Dahlia Akins, and Malachi Walter Long), great grandmother to Nailani Hughes and godmother to Candace James. She will be missed deeply by her children, daughter-in-love, siblings, grandchildren, great granddaughter, sister-in-laws Sura O’Mard, Joanne “Saada” Washington and Sandra “Kube” Long, and goddaughter as well as countless, nieces and nephews, family, and community of friends.
       Valerie would not want you to be sad that she is gone, but yet rejoice because she has gone home to be with her Lord and her love, Walter, hearing the words “my good and faithful servant, well done” as it is written in Matthew 25:21.

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