Jackson Payne Buckner

Heaven received another angel when Jackson Payne Buckner gained his wings on February 27, 2023. Jackson was a remarkable young man who created an extraordinary life during his twelve sweet years on earth. A gentleman and renaissance youth of many talents, Jackson possessed intellectual, athletic, social, and emotional abilities that made him stand out.

Academically strong, Jackson was a permanent fixture on the Principal’s and High Honor Rolls. He appreciated the importance of educational excellence and had a level of wit and insight that was unusual for one so young. For those qualities, he was selected annually to serve as the Master of Ceremony for Honor Roll assemblies at his elementary school, Chesapeake Math & IT South (CMIT). Following his father’s lead -- an ardent Muhammad Ali fan -- Jackson would regularly repeat Ali’s mantra, “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it,” as he set about preparing himself for a life of greatness.

Greatness would have been his destiny. Jackson was likely to pursue a computer science or engineering career because he could do anything technical or related to numbers. He could solve various types of Rubik's Cubes in a few seconds and had no difficulties completing LEGO sets designed for adults. He once put together a 1400-piece LEGO set in three days flat at age 10. Jackson also enjoyed doing puzzles and solving riddles. By far, his great love was playing video games with his twin sister, Sloan, and buddies at both CMIT and Bullis School.

Jackson’s mastery of and passion for things that challenged the mind and body also extended to his love for sports. He prided himself on being a three-star student-athlete with early football, basketball, and lacrosse achievements. He played football for the first time last year for both Bullis and the 11U Mighty Boys of Upper Marlboro. He made notable plays and even scored his first touchdown at his middle school’s opening game. Jackson also loved playing basketball for his middle school. Over the last two summers, he received the Nike Basketball Camp’s Mental Toughness Award and the Gonzaga College High School’s Purple Eagle - Master Shooter Summer Award. Jackson was also a budding lacrosse star, gaining even more self-confidence when he made the elite Next Level Lacrosse 2029 Team with less than four months of playing experience.

Stemming from his time at Reid Temple Christian Academy and CMIT South, Jackson’s biggest talents may have been his positive outlook on life, his treatment of others, and his charismatic personality. He won various school awards, including the Work Habit, Citizenship, Kindness, Really Respectful, and Character citations. He was undoubtedly a young man who loved God, his family, neighbors, teammates, classmates, and friends with great passion. He greatly admired and respected his grandparents and adored his big brother, Tyler. He and Sloan were inseparable and they did everything together. They jointly cared for Hunter - their first dog, learned sports, and completed homework and many school and community projects together. Almost daily, Jackson unabashedly told his parents how much he loved them. He sought his dad’s guidance and advice on almost everything, and he was known to write uplifting notes to his mom and hide them for her to find later.

As his Papa would say, Jackson was a “gentleman’s gentleman” who lived a life of meaning, connection, and accomplishment. He will always be loved and very sorely missed.

Left to cherish Jackson’s memory are his loving parents, Tyrone and Tami (Jackson), adoring twin sister Sloan, and big brother Tyler. Jackson was also greatly supported and loved by his grandparents, Willie J. and Ludena A. Buckner, Richard Jackson (deceased) and Bernice Payne Jackson; aunts Tracye Drake and Terrye Jackson (deceased); uncles Richard Todd Jackson, Gregg Kantak, and Kwan Drake; cousins Karlye and Kayden Drake; godfather Dr. Roderick Eugene Brown; godmother Teresa Bonner; and a host of family members throughout Maryland, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, and beyond.