Patricia Josephine Kemp Jackson

Patricia Josephine “PJ” Jackson, 56, of Houston passed away September 24, 2023. Patricia, known as PJ, was born December 11, 1966, in Detroit, Michigan, the youngest of five daughters to William and Patricia Kemp. She is preceded in death by her father, William Buchanan Kemp and her sister, Kathleen Anne Kemp. She is survived by her husband of 22 years, Thomas Aquila Hathaway Jackson, sons Parker Thomas Jackson and Henry William Jackson, mother Patricia Marie Grobbel, sisters Margaret Fitzpatrick Kemp Karteron, Michaela Marie Zirnbauer, and Angela Mary Woodrow. She leaves behind a large, loving family that includes her mother-in-law, step mother-in-law, 7 sister- and brother-in-laws, 13 nieces and nephews, 15 grand nieces and nephews, and 1 great grand-niece. Born in Detroit, PJ spent her early years in Grosse Pointe Park and attended St. Clare de Montefalco Elementary School, where her sense of fun-loving good humor included sharing her delight and whimsy in her original “jokes” through her contagious laughter. In early high school, she moved with her family to Fountain Valley, California and graduated from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana. Following High School, PJ took her fun-loving nature to California State University, Long Beach. The fun found a home in the Department of Kinesiology, where on her way to a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Leisure, she swam with the dolphins at Santa Barbara Channel Island. She brought fun and enthusiasm into every career path she explored, before settling on education. Opting to be near family, she moved to Texas, where her parents had relocated a few years previously and completed a Master’s in Education at the University of St. Thomas in 1997. While working as a bartender during this time, PJ became an avid fan of the Rockets because their back-to-back championships kept her tip jar full. Along with bartending, PJ started teaching, first at St. Jerome, and then moved on to Sharpstown Middle School in the Houston Independent School District. In August 1999, at a party that she almost didn’t go to, PJ met the love of her life. In true PJ style, she got his attention as he was wandering around the room: “So you’re going to wear a rut in the floor or you’re going to sit down!” Thomas sat down, and as they say, the rest is history. PJ and Thomas were married in March of 2001 and PJ continued teaching and increasingly made a difference in the lives of her students, their families, and her fellow teachers. PJ’s leadership and ability to connect with others, both in the classroom and in the larger school community, led to her becoming the principal for St. Jerome Catholic School. She served the St. Jerome community as principal from 2010 to 2020. She then returned to the classroom at Memorial Middle School where she taught 8th grade English until she retired in Spring 2023. PJ enjoyed exploring and adventuring, whether hiking through National Parks, going to the beach, or taking in art installations. Always, she was curious about life and drawn to discovering the beauty in ordinary moments. She delighted in traveling the world, was a voracious reader, and grew to be a culinary enthusiast specializing in creating allergen friendly menus that delighted all who were invited to the feast. PJ’s joy of living was a key part of her home life, whether gardening with her husband, Thomas, or the rare treat of relaxing to watch a movie on the couch with her boys. PJ was serious about having fun and had a joyful tenacity that was contagious and inspiring. She cared deeply about her family, her students, and her team. She was intentional about relationships, craved authentic conversation, and celebrated even the smallest of victories with complete abandon. PJ was a curator of corny jokes and the emcee of encouragement. She was a devoted wife and a steadfastly committed mother. She was love-in-action. A Rosary Service will be held at 7 PM on Thursday, October 5th, at St. Jerome Catholic Church 8825 Kempwood Dr. Houston, TX 77080. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Jerome on Friday, October 6th at 10 AM, with a reception immediately following on church grounds. In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to The Nature Conservancy.

Patricia Josephine Kemp Jackson

December 11, 1966 - September 24, 2023