Family and friends are mourning the loss of a Pensacola man who died Tuesday morning after they say he fell ill from eating raw oysters.

Rodney Jackson -- an Air Force veteran who spent much of his life working in banking -- was 55 years old. He recently moved back to Pensacola and began working for the Studer Community Institute, helping local businesses grow -- specifically minority-owned businesses.

The institute's president says they'll aim to keep his work and legacy going.

We just know right now that we have to do it," Studer Community Institute President Rachael Gillette said. "We don't know how we're going to do it without Rodney. It's going to be very hard, but we have to do it because it's important work -- and we have to do it to honor his memory.

Jackson was also a husband, father and grandfather.

Friends say he became sick several days ago and ended up in Ascension Sacred Heart's ICU before passing.

According to the CDC, some raw oysters contain vibrio bacteria -- especially during the summer months.

The agency estimates around 80,000 people in the U.S. get vibriosis each year -- and around 100 die from it.

The Florida Department of Health told Channel 3 Tuesday it is investigating a vibrio-related death.

Channel 3 has previously reported on people ending up hospitalized after exposing cuts to water with the bacteria.

His character and his compassion will always will always live with all of us," said Pastor Marcel Davis, who was a friend of Jackson for over 20 years.

The Studer Community Institute highlighted Jackson's work to help minority businesses in the community just last week.

"He's really helped businesses that were struggling and didn't know where to turn," Gillette said. "Rodney's been a beacon of hope for them in this community."

The Florida Department of Health suggests thoroughly cooking oysters and other shellfish. The agency says frying, stewing or roasting them helps eliminate the harmful bacteria that can get you sick.