Tears well up in Gregory Jackson’s eyes as he recalls memories of his Tuscaloosa childhood. He is the second youngest of 11 brothers and sisters, and his older sister raised eight of them after their mother passed away when he was still a young boy.

His sister is responsible for shaping him into the man that students at The University of Alabama have grown to know and love.

“One of the first things she ever taught me was the word ‘joy’ and what it stood for: Jesus, others, and then yourself,” Jackson said. “That never left me.”

Jackson, 55, originally worked at a car detail shop and “learned to love it because the pay was good,” but it was never truly fulfilling for him. Five years ago he began working at The University of Alabama and is now the lead utility of the Lakeside Dining Hall, responsible for making sure everything is running smoothly for students. But Jackson’s work doesn’t stop there.

“I make it my business to make sure nobody ever goes through anything by themselves, good or bad,” Jackson said. “If my child was miles away from home I would want someone to let him know that he is not by himself.”

Anyone who has met Mr. Greg knows if they ever need anything they can go to him. That is his motto and he always makes sure to tell every student he meets.

Ambernique Campbell, 20, a sophomore at The University of Alabama, recalls a moment when Jackson was there for her during her freshman year, when she accidentally threw away her keys at the dining hall.

“Mr. Greg saw me freaking out and asked if I needed anything,” Campbell said. “When I told him I thought I threw away my keys, he went to the back and got some gloves and started digging through the trash. When he finished going through the last bag with no luck, he gave me money to go replace my keys and ACT card at the bus hub. He didn’t even know me and he cared about me enough to do all of that.”

Campbell never forgot Jackson and continues to visit him weekly.

“When you see him you just feel better about your day,” Campbell said. “He makes you feel more positive, like everything will be okay.”

Jackson said this is more than just a job to him, and the kids are more than just students – they are his students.

“People say that they want to change the world,” Jackson said. “Being able to work here puts me in the position to do something right now and ten years down the road when all my students have graduated and gone away, there’s going to be a little piece of Mr. Greg with them.”

Jackson has no plans to retire until he feels he has accomplished his true purpose in helping students and intends to be here as long as they need him.