Jean Appleby (Jackson) Johnson was tragically killed Wednesday, Jan. 14, when she was struck by a vehicle on Orr’s Island in Harpswell, Maine. She was 71 years old.
Throughout a life lived in South Carolina, Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and finally on the coast of Maine, Jean’s life was marked by quiet service and dedication to her family and friends, the arts, and community.
Born March 4, 1954, in Georgetown, South Carolina, Jean Lundy Appleby grew up in Florence, South Carolina. She graduated high school a year early and matriculated at her mother’s alma mater, Winthrop College. There, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in history with honors, magna cum laude, before earning her Master of Public Administration from the University of Virginia.
For over a decade, Jean worked in politics in Washington, D.C., including on Capitol Hill and in both the Ford and Reagan White Houses. During this time, she formed lifelong friendships and met her late husband, Steve Jackson.
With the birth of her two sons, Stephen and Will, Jean put her career on hold. Still, she remained active as a weekly volunteer in the East Wing for First Lady Barbara Bush, was a member of the Board of Visitors at James Madison University, and served as chair of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. She was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service.
Steve’s passing in 2000 only increased her devotion to and involvement with her sons’ lives. Jean sacrificed her time to shuttle them throughout Northern Virginia to double bass, piano and other music lessons and concerts, sports practices and games, and Boy Scouts. She ensured they lived well-rounded and cultured lives. Jean was a guiding light to both of her sons, leading them through their formative years and into adulthood with a quiet strength and fortitude. She was extremely proud to see both sons reach the rank of Eagle Scout, graduate college, and build their own lives in D.C.
Jean returned to the workforce for a variety of Northern Virginia-based nonprofits, for which she led large-scale projects. She had her own small business focused on public relations and won multiple national awards while serving as the director of business development for a regional accounting firm. Finally, Jean served as a consultant specializing in interim nonprofit executive positions.
After spending many summers vacationing in Maine at the Jackson family cottage, Jean moved full time to Orr’s Island in 2006, where she met Charlie Johnson. They were married in 2009 and opened their home to family and friends, sharing Jean’s passion for introducing visitors to the beauty of Maine and the uniqueness of Orr’s and Bailey islands.
Across her two decades in Maine, she served on the boards of the Maine Maritime Museum, the Orr’s Island Library, and the Salt Bay Chamberfest, and volunteered for multiple organizations. Jean fostered strong ties to the community as a member of Islands Community Church, All Saints Chapel, and the Orr’s-Bailey Yacht Club, among others.
The daughter of a piano teacher, Jean’s passion for music was demonstrated through support of the Salt Bay Chamberfest and the Bowdoin International Music Festival, where she and Charlie provided scholarships for double bass students and invited them into their home during the festival. Jean and Charlie attended concerts, musicals and dance performances in their travels, and she often hunted for the churches with the best music in each city they visited.
In Maine, Jean’s abilities in arts and crafts blossomed. In addition to sewing and knitting with friends, she always had a project underway: drawing, painting, collage, decoupage, hooking a rug or repurposing a piece of furniture.
Jean was predeceased by her parents, Charles L. Appleby Jr. and Betty Lundy Appleby; her first husband, Stephen D. Jackson Sr.; and her brother, Charles L. Appleby III. She is survived by her husband, Charlie; sons, Stephen Jackson (Nicole) and Will Jackson (Melissa); stepchildren, David (Amanda) and Linda (Nick); six adored grandchildren; four beloved nieces and nephews; and numerous cousins, whom she kept in regular touch with.
In lieu of flowers, Jean’s family encourages you to attend a music or arts event in her memory, and to reach out to a friend you’ve lost touch with. Donations in Jean’s honor may be made to the Salt Bay Chamberfest or the Orr’s Island Library.
A celebration honoring Jean’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, at First Parish Church in Brunswick, with a livestream at firstparish.net.
To offer condolences and share fond memories, please visit brackettfh.com to view Jean’s online memorial.
