Nathaniel Marston‘s mother, Elizabeth Jackson, shared new details about her late son following a memorial service to honor him at Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York on Saturday, January 16. Marston, remembered as Michael McBain on “One Life to Live” and Eddie Silva, “As the World Turns,” died November 11 as a result of injuries he suffered in a car crash on October 30.

After the service, which included Kathy Brier (ex-Marcy McBain, OLTL) singing Marston’s favorite song, “Hallelujah,” Jackson spoke to People magazine about her late son. She admitted that he’d struggled with demons in the past — namely, drug addiction — but had completed a treatment program and was doing “really good.”

After getting clean in 2012, Marston moved to Gerlach, Nevada, where Jackson lives, and found a new life. He spent time with children at the Gerlach School, where a scholarship has been set up in his name. One Christmas, he cooked and delivered 100 dinners and handmade cards to everyone in the small town. During the winters, he fed cows on a nearby ranch.

Jackson explained that her son had gotten his life together and was ready to go back to pilot season. He promised his mother he would buy her a ranch where they would raise cattle. He wanted to mentor foster children and “pay it forward,” because God had been so good to them.

Sadly, he never got the chance. You can read Jackson’s entire touching interview at People.com.