PHOTO: Kelley Earnhardt shares heartfelt tribute to late mom Brenda Jackson on her birthday

Kelley Earnhardt Miller, the sister of Dale Earnhardt Jr., shared a heart-touching tribute to her late mother, Brenda Jackson, on what would have been her birthday. She shared an Instagram story with fond memories.

Brenda Jackson, the mother of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt, died in 2019 at the age of 65 after battling cancer. She was a beloved figure in the Earnhardt family and the NASCAR community.

In an Instagram story, Kelley expressed a deep sense of loss and longing, emphasizing how much she misses her mother not just on special occasions but every day. She also recalled a joyful moment when she surprised her mother with a trip to Chicago for her 50th birthday.

Remembering her mother on her birthday, Kelley shared a story on her official Instagram account with a heartfelt caption:

“Birthdays for you were fun! Miss ya momma, today and every day! This was 50. We surprised you with a trip to Chicago!”

Kelley's Insta story

Jackson is a daughter of former NASCAR fabricator Robert Gee, who built cars for several drivers, including NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr.

After separating from Dale Sr., Jackson took care of her two children, but a house fire left them homeless, and young Dale and Kelley went to live with their father. While Jackson shifted to Virginia.

She got married for the second time to Willie Jackson in 1985. When her husband retired, they returned to North Carolina. Jackson started working as an accounting specialist for JRM in 2004. Sadly, she died in 2019. She was known for her unwavering support of her children, Kelley and Dale.

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When Kelley Earnhardt praises her mother’s efforts to make her Christmas memorable

Kelley Earnhardt was very close to her mother and considered her a cheerleader and supporter.

In 2020, during an interview with Graham Bensinger, Kelley spoke about her mother’s love and sacrifice, which left a lasting impression on her childhood. She was proud of her mother's efforts to make memories with her children, especially during Christmas, even though she lived six hours away.

Recalling how her mother would drive long hours to pick her and her brother Dale Jr. up on Christmas Day, Kelley said:

“My mom's perspective, she was an awesome parent. She lived six hours away from Dale and I when we were kids. She made every effort under the sun to make our visits with her, to make memories with her. When I think back on my childhood, I think very fondly of my experiences with my mom. We would get in the car on Christmas day with her.

“We would just be at the door waiting for her to pick us up at five o'clock. She was allowed to get us at five o'clock on Christmas Day. She drove six hours from Norfolk, Virginia. We got in the car with her, drove six hours back. We would get home to her house at midnight and we'd have Christmas, right at midnight.” [2:05]

Kelley Earnhardt works as chief executive officer of JR Motorsports, which she also co-owns with her brother, Dale Jr.