Sweetgrass, a plant named for the sweet smell of its reeds, is indigenous to the coastal lowlands of South Carolina. Developed originally as domestic and agricultural tools for cotton and rice production, sweetgrass baskets have traditionally taken utilitarian shapes such as storage containers and rice fanners.

Despite this tradition in her family, Jackson did not take up basketmaking as an adult until 1973 when she began producing baskets full-time and she began teaching her daughter the art form. Today, basketmaking is still a family affair -- her husband and son gather the sweetgrass from local marshes while her daughter provides administrative support. For the last seven years, she has been teaching her granddaughter the art of Sweetgrass basketmaking.

Jackson's intricately coiled baskets preserve the centuries-old craft of sweetgrass basketry and continue to push the tradition in new directions. While preserving the culture and history of her ancestors, Jackson infuses the art form with a contemporary aesthetic and expressiveness all her own. With masterful technique, Jackson translates practical designs into finely detailed, sculptural forms. Today, her baskets are owned by such noted individuals as Prince Charles and the Empress of Japan

A founding member of the Mount Pleasant Sweetgrass Basket Makers' Association, Jackson also leads efforts to protect the threatened wetland habitats of sweetgrass and ensure continued local access to these resources. In 2008 was awarded the Environmental Stewardship Award of Achievement given by the South Carolina Aquarium.