Jackson Carroll Palmer

Jackson Carroll Palmer, born at Georgetown Hospital in Washington, D.C. on October 25, 2001, passed away on February 28, 2024.  Jackson, an accomplished athlete and musician, graduated St. Paul VI High School in Fairfax, Virginia in 2020.  He played cello in the PVI orchestra all four years and enjoyed a special relationship with his Grandmother Theresa Shonka Palmer, who mentored Jackson in his musical endeavors and worked tirelessly to get him to lessons and learn new pieces of music.  A fierce competitor and no stranger to hard work, Jackson shared a love of lacrosse and other sports with his father Mike Palmer. Jackson played varsity lacrosse and wrestled for the varsity team.  He developed solid skills while competing for the Virginia Lacrosse Club and Bandits Wrestling program as a youth and benefited greatly from the example of his coaches.  Through sports he made many friends and experienced winning a VISAA State Lacrosse Championship while playing for legendary coach Bob Waters.  He placed twice in the Virginia State Wrestling Tournament and won second in the WCAC tournament competing at the 120 lb weight class. Jackson committed to playing D1 lacrosse his junior year and competed during the 2021 season as a freshman at Colorado Mesa University where he played in four games scoring six goals.

Jackson had a love of the American West, shared with his Grandfather Michael Palmer and other family members, spending summer vacationing in National Parks and enjoying the great outdoors. Jackson also enjoyed spending time in the Outer Banks with all his grandparents nearly every summer of his life.  There are many wonderful memories of boogie boarding with his Grandpa Jim and getting ice cream with his Nana Carolyn. Electing to study Environmental Science in college, Jackson cared greatly for all God’s creatures and wanted a career that would focus on finding solutions for today’s environmental issues.  He shared a love of science with his mother Amy Bright Palmer and his older brother Jakob as well as his Aunt Allison and Uncle Clem. Jakob Bright Palmer, who loved his brother dearly, is pursuing his master’s degree in Entomology from Utah State University.

Jackson was fearless and often acted selflessly to keep others from harm.  He always had time for friends and relatives and cared about people’s well-being.  While serving as a patrol at Canterbury Woods Elementary School he pulled a younger student out of the way of a moving car, preventing injury.  The adults that witnessed this were so impressed that they created a special award for the end of the year 6th grade graduation and presented him with the “LifeSaver Award”.  Later as a teenager, Jackson saved a struggling swimmer while working as a lifeguard. 

Jackson is survived by numerous friends and loving relatives. His parents, Mike “Mikey” & Amy Palmer of Woodstock, VA; his brother Jakob Palmer and committed friend Katie Graybeal of Logan, Utah; his paternal grandparents, Michael & Theresa Palmer of Fairfax, VA and his maternal grandparents James & Carolyn Bright of Chesapeake, VA; and his aunt Allison Bright Neely and uncle Clem Neely, cousins Luke & Grayson of Paola, KS; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins spread all around the United States and world. 

In recognition of the Lenten season, the family requests that donations be made to St. John Bosco Catholic Church 315 N Main St, Woodstock, VA 22664 for Masses to be said for the repose of Jackson’s soul. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on March 8, 2024, at 11am at St. John Bosco. There will be a reception following the burial at the family home at 112 Indian Spring Rd, Woodstock, VA 22664.

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