Shanna Dawn Jackson

Shanna Dawn Jackson, 53, passed away peacefully at Emory Hospital on Monday evening, with her wife and parents by her side. Shanna was born in Houston, Texas to Linda and Travis Jackson, MD. She spent her first few years in Texas before moving to Winston-Salem, North Carolina at the age of three. Shanna was an active child involved in many sports before discovering her innate soccer talent. She was a star soccer player at RJ Reynolds High School before moving on to play soccer for Guilford College. She graduated from Guilford College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.Following graduation, Shanna moved to Atlanta in 1994 to work for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. She served as an undercover Special Agent in North Georgia for several years before ultimately resigning to follow her true passion in psychology. She attended Georgia State University receiving her Masters in Professional Counseling and became a Licensed Professional Counselor before moving on to Fielding Graduate University to obtain her PhD as a Clinical Psychologist. Shanna spent the last 21 years in private practice working with adults through psychotherapy and counseling as well as leading psychotherapy groups, with a special interest in women’s health. Shanna was instrumental in bringing the Atlanta Birth Center in to being.Shanna’s true joy was her two boys, Sam and Gray, with whom she could not have more pride. Her love for them made her light shine even brighter. She wanted nothing more than to be found cheering on Sam on the soccer field or watching Gray at a robotics competition. In 2019, she married the love of her life, Sharon Jackson; they recently celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary.Shanna was a dear friend to so many. She had a special gift in helping others. Her calm disposition and intuitive nature made a special bond with each life she touched. She illuminated every room immediately befriending each person in it. Her joy was contagious. She lived a life full of authenticity and took special care to appreciate every moment. Her discipline and dedication as a college athlete translated off the field as she showed the same energy to her clients. She shared her heart through her love of music and soccer. Everyone that had the honor to know her, knew she was a dedicated wife, daughter, sister, friend, and most importantly, mother. She will be dearly missed. Shanna is survived by her wife, Sharon Hiers Jackson of Atlanta, Georgia; two sons, Sam and Gray Jackson-Noell of Atlanta, Georgia; her parents, Dr. Travis Harold and Linda Levoy Jackson of Asheville, North Carolina; her brother Travis Aaron Jackson and his three children of Asheville, North Carolina; along with cousins, aunts, uncles and friends. A Celebration of Life, followed by a reception, will take place Saturday, November 1st at 4:00pm at Central Congregational United Church of Christ at 2676 Clairmont Road, Atlanta. All are welcome.In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to:InterAtlanta Futbol Club: Sam is a defensive mid on the MLSNext Homegrown team. 

Donate via Venmo to @iafc_blues with "In Memory of Shanna" in the memo.G3 Robotics: Gray is the Chief Technology Officer for G3 Robotics. Donate here: https://www.g3robotics.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=5adbd61a352f53992db2d729 in memory of Shanna Jackson.

The service will also be streamed live on https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86813660412