As news broke of the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s death on February 17, 2026, actress Holly Robinson Peete mourned his loss as a civil rights icon and a close friend. The longtime Hallmark star shared beautiful photos from her 1995 wedding to former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, which Jackson officiated.
“Reverend Jesse L. Jackson changed the course of history with faith, fire, and fearless love for our people,” Robinson Peete wrote in one of two social media tributes. “And…in the most sacred moment of our lives, he joined our hands and blessed our union in 1995. 👰🏽♀️🤵🏾♂️”
Holly Robinson Peete Says the Rev. Jesse Jackson ‘Always Showed Up When You Needed Him’
Jackson, who was 84 at the time of his death, was a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and went on to lead the U.S. Civil Rights Movement for decades, per the Associated Press.
In Robinson Peete’s post about Jackson’s participation in her wedding, she noted that even as he led crusades for equality around the world, he always took time to nourish his personal relationships back home.
“That is the kind of man he was—global in impact, yet deeply personal in his care,” she wrote. “He was hilariously honest that sweltering June day! As the Reverend said ‘you Holly have cried and you Rodney have sweated now y’all are married …so kiss!’ The Reverend always showed up when you needed him. I used to joke that there had to be three of him.”
The “Hats Off to Love” star continued, “As we celebrate his extraordinary life, his enduring legacy, let’s remember countless lives he lifted and impacted along the way. Oh Rev. We will miss you. But Your work is done🕊️🙏🏽”
Fans flooded Robinson Peete’s post with comments, including one who wrote, “What a special memory.. thanks for sharing…rest easy Rev Jackson 😢”
Holly Robinson Peete Posted Additional Tributes to Jesse Jackson
Before sharing memories from her wedding, Robinson Peete posted a separate tribute to Jackson on Instagram in which she wrote, “Some people shape history. Reverend Jesse Jackson shaped hearts.”
She continued, “From marching for justice to standing beside us as he married us in 1995, his life was a living testimony of faith, courage, and unwavering love for humanity. We honor the giant he was, the doors he opened, and the hope he carried for generations to come. His legacy will never fade. Only grow. Rest In Peace, Rev … We love you and your family.🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽”
Robinson Peete also paid tribute to Jackson on X, formerly known as Twitter, sharing four wedding photos and tweeting, “A life devoted to justice… A voice rooted in faith… A love that blessed generations. We will forever cherish the day Reverend Jesse Jackson joined our hands and our hearts in 1995. His legacy lives on—in history, and in the countless lives he impacted. Rest now, Rev 🙏🏽🕊️❤️”
One of her followers reflected, “From the 1960s Civil Rights Movement to his ‘Rainbow Coalition’ and beyond, Rev. Jackson redefined what was possible for Black leadership in America. To have had him ‘join your hands’ is to hold a literal piece of that history in your own family story.”
