Brendan Lawrence Jackson Obituary, Death: 26-Year-Old Civil Rights Litigation Initiative Student Attorney Passes Away
Brendan Lawrence Jackson, a 26-year-old student attorney at the Civil Rights Litigation Initiative, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on May 10, 2024. Born on February 1, 1998, in Flint, MI, Brendan was a brilliant and compassionate individual who dedicated his life to advocating for those in need.
Brendan grew up with a passion for reading, skiing, and music. He was an avid skier and competed for Grand Blanc High School. He also loved watching Scooby-Doo and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Brendan’s academic excellence was evident from a young age, and he went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he studied Computer Science in Engineering.
After briefly working in the corporate world, Brendan decided to pursue a career in law to make a more direct positive impact on the world. While applying to law school, he was diagnosed with Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma, an ultra-rare cancer. Despite this, Brendan remained determined to advocate for others and spent time working with the Michigan Civil Rights Litigation Initiative, ACLU, UM Human Trafficking Clinic, and Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office.
Brendan was passionate about advocating for the queer and disabled communities, as well as those who were victims of unfair, unjust, and discriminatory practices. He was set to begin work with Legal Services of South Central Michigan to provide pro-bono legal aid in June.
Brendan’s love story with his husband, James, began in 2021, and they were married in front of 200 friends and family in Charlevoix, MI, on October 20, 2023. They shared a love for travel, food, and board games, and their home was always filled with friends and family enjoying board game nights and extravagant dinner parties.
Brendan is survived by his husband, James Coller; parents Rick and Lori Jackson; sisters Alexis and Maggie Jackson; grandparents Darrell and Jan Sprague and Jim and Melanie Jackson; aunts and uncles Dave and Jackie Sprague, Amy and Joe Hollowell, Theresa Jackson, Larry and Julie Jackson; dozens of cousins and great aunts and uncles; and many close friends who became family.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Nie Funeral Home, followed by a second opportunity to visit on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., with a service beginning at 12:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held at Venue by 4M immediately following the service.
Donations can be made in Brendan’s name to the Rucker Collier Foundation at (link unavailable). Brendan’s wish was to help the world, and he was determined to do anything he could to prevent others from experiencing the pain of cancer. He made a final gift to the world by donating his cancerous tissue to the Rucker Collier Foundation.
Brendan will be remembered for his iconic eye rolls, razor-sharp wit, obsession with books and board games, and love of pop music. His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the impact he made on the world.
