Memorial Services Held for Jermaine Jackson

The University of Maryland's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) has lost a staff member and a dear friend. Jackson passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 18. He was 27.

Jermaine joined the ECE Undergraduate Studies office in 2011 as an academic advisor. He was quickly promoted to Coordinator of Undergraduate Academic Advising.

Jermaine was the smiling face of the undergraduate office, a champion of the students," said Mel Gomez, Professor and Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies in the ECE Department. "He was a southern gentleman and a good-hearted person."

Prior to joining the staff in ECE, Jermaine worked as an academic advisor for the McDonnell-Barksdale Honors College at his alma mater, The University of Mississippi. Jermaine completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He was an honors student, a member of the Associated Student Body, and a continual presence at the Student Media Center where he helped to create DMonline.com, participated in NewsWatch, worked on the Daily Mississippian, the Ole Miss yearbook, and took part in many other activities.

Services were planned to honor Jermaine. Jermaine’s family, still in his hometown of Charleston, Mississippi, held his funeral at Abundant Harvest Church of God in Christ On Saturday, January 26, 2013. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department also organized a memorial service in Jermaine’s honor on Friday, January 25th at 2:00 p.m. in the A.V. Williams Building. Rama Chellappa, Mel Gomez, Chris Davis, Judi Bell, Neruh Ramirez and many students offered remarks and reflections.

The Office of Undergraduate Studies is compiling a book of memories for Jermaine’s family. Stop by to include your memories of Jermaine to share with his family, or to send your condolences.

A few graduates of the Meek School of Journalism have started a wonderful tribute site where you can get a glimpse of how Jermaine impacted the community at Ole Miss with the same joy and warm-heartedness that he brought to the University of Maryland.

Published January 29, 2013