Jackson Reed Barber

Jackson Reed Barber, 32, died of an accidental overdose, in Middlefield, OH on April 26, 2023, in the apartment he was proud to inhabit after years of residential treatment for severe and persistent mental illness.

Jackson was born May 12, 1990 in Washington, DC. He was brilliant, passionate, loyal, kind and generous. He graduated third in his class with an IB Diploma from Grimsley High in 2007, as a National Merit Scholar and Math Award recipient. Jackson then attended UNC Chapel Hill Honors Program. He earned a B.S. in Math from Belhaven University in Jackson, MS, in December, 2017, overcoming many struggles to achieve that milestone. His capstone project was on “The Solved, the Unsolved and the Unsolvable.“

Jackson “solved” the problem of how to live a life of meaning by being a beacon to others; by enjoying his myriad passions such as a great cup of coffee; playing/hearing a good guitar riff (especially by Jerry or Trey or Derek); rituals like buying the first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season; or breaking out “A Charlie Brown Christmas” CD in November. On April 25, he led a dance party to “All I Want for Christmas is You” back at Hopewell Farm. Jackson shared his brilliant wit and laughter, and off-key singing voice, freely. He touched lives and won accolades at many a campus, workplace and community.

Jackson was a scuba diver into deep matters of existence and meaning. But he could not solve the problem of having a brain chemistry that lied to him. His family’s hope is that he will be remembered for his better angels. Special thanks to Hopewell Therapeutic Farm in Middlefield, OH, and particularly to Daniel Horne, for helping Jackson regain a community, a sparkle in his eye, and his sense of humor. He loved you all.

Jackson was predeceased by loving grandparents and his sister Lucy; surviving are his mother Maura Barber; father John and step-mom Laurie Barber; brother Casey Barber and Casey’s wife Helen; and aunts, uncles, and cousins who will miss him dearly.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 13 at 11 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3906 W. Friendly Ave. in Greensboro, NC. 27410

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to www.Hopewellcommunity.org, or the National Alliance on Mental Illness, www.nami.org, or a substance abuse program of your choice.

Please keep on fighting stigma and system failures, in Jackson’s beautiful memory.

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