Tommy Courtney Jackson

Tommy Jackson, a radiant soul whose infectious laugh, impeccable wit, and indomitable spirit touched everyone he met, passed away on January 10, 2025, just three days before his 46th birthday, of complications from a congenital heart condition. And while his life ended far too soon, he will always be remembered for his enormous strength in the face of adversity, through multiple surgeries and hospitalizations. Tommy spent his childhood years in Riverside, CA. Even as a young boy, his outgoing personality and respectful demeanor made it easy for him to make friends. He also shared his mother’s passion for building and designing things around the house – a passion that inspired him to later attend art school where he further refined his amazing ability to transform any environment into an enchanting experience. In 2005, Tommy followed his friends Phil Bacnotan and Ned French from Los Angeles to Baltimore, where they all shared a home on Evergreen Avenue, as well as a loving circle of family and friends with whom Tommy celebrated many special occasions over the years. Indeed, he will be sorely missed at birthday parties, Pride festivals, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, given his gift of conversation and jovial nature. Tommy also made his way out into Baltimore’s legendary drag scene, where he soon built a solid reputation as a phenomenal performer, with a large and loyal audience. And no wonder given his immense talent, as well as his unwavering dedication to both the art and the mission of drag. What’s more, throughout his 20 years in Baltimore, Tommy never went long without a job, despite the unpredictable state of his health. Indeed, his solid work ethic was, like everything else in his life, grounded in both a strong sense of integrity and a “can do” attitude. He was particularly proud of his most recent job as Event Coordinator at the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts (BOPA), which he enjoyed not only for the work, but also for the amazing people he worked with. Preceded in passing by his mother, Maxine Jackson, and aunt, Beatrice Williams, Tommy is survived by his godmother, Yvonne Choyce, cousins Angela Porter, Sabrina Rhone, Myesha Jones, Dez Henderson, Eric Robinson, Emishia, Emeall, & Evett Robinson, Tracy & Renalynn Porter, along with a multitude of chosen family members, including work colleagues, by whom he will be deeply missed and forever loved. A Celebration of Life will be held on February 8 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm at the Cloisters Castle on Falls Road in Timonium, MD.

Tommy Courtney Jackson

January 13, 1979 - January 10, 2025