The Jackson Family Tragedy
In September, Alan Jackson and his family had their worlds turned upside down when Alan’s son-in-law, Ben Selecman, slipped and fell on a boat dock in Florida. He was unable to recover from his injuries, and passed away on September 12.
Ben, who was married to Alan’s eldest daughter Mattie, served as the Assistant District Attorney at the Davidson County, Tennessee District Attorney’s office.
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It was that office that confirmed the news of his passing via a statement issued to Taste of Country:
“The District Attorney’s Office is saddened to announce the passing of Assistant DA Ben Selecman. General Selecman suffered severe injuries during a boating accident and passed away on September 12. He was 28-years-old. District Attorney Glenn Funk said the DA’s Office is thankful for every day that Ben had the opportunity to serve the people of Davidson County. Our prayers are with Ben’s family. He will be truly missed.”
As thousands sent their prayers and condolences to Alan, he remained silent, taking the time to grieve his son-in-law’s tragic loss.
Alan Breaks His Silence
Finally, Alan posted a statement about Ben’s death, along with a few photos, on September 28. In it, he thanked all of his fans for the outpouring of support they had shown since hearing the sad news.
But mostly, he took the time to talk about the type of man Ben was.
“His childlike enthusiasm for each new day was contagious to everyone around him.” Alan wrote. “He was the godly young man that Denise had always prayed for for Mattie.”
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“Godly” is the exact same word Mattie used to describe her husband while speaking to Southern Bride in 2017. The couples’ nuptials were covered extensively by the publication, and Mattie spoke in-depth about their love story.
“He pursued me until I finally saw the handsome, outgoing, Godly guy I needed,” she said. “After deciding we were meant for forever, he took me on a picnic on the Old Historic Natchez Trace, where we enjoyed incredible wine, cheese, dancing and the most romantic proposal.”
The couple’s gorgeous wedding took place on the Jackson family estate on October 7, 2017. The two made sure that Alan’s music had a special part in the celebration, as their first dance was a two-step swing to his first single, “Blue Blooded Woman.”
Little did Mattie know on that happy day that her husband would pass away less than a year later.
How She’s Doing Now…
But out of her great tragedy, Mattie has found an incredible new purpose. On Wednesday (November 7), Alan provided an update on how she’s been doing since Ben’s passing, and what he had to say is sure to touch your heart.
Alan shared a photo of his wife, Denise, along with Mattie and their two other daughters, Alexandra and Dani. The four women are all smiling at the camera, with the girls wearing shirts that say NaSHEville.
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NaSHEville is a new apparel brand recently launched in part by Mattie. The brand’s Instagram describes it as “A brand, a body, and a movement celebrating fierce, grace-filled women of Nashville.”
As Alan explained in his post, Mattie has adopted NasSHEville as her new mission in life, which “gives back to women and orphans in need.” He also encouraged everyone to check out the brand “and support strong women like her, turning their great pain into a great purpose.”
How inspiring is that? Alan and Denise clearly raised a strong and compassionate woman!
We can’t think of any better way for Mattie to honor Ben than by giving back to others in his memory. Our hearts and prayers remain with her and the entire Jackson family