Christine Stockwell

STOCKWELL—Christine Louise Jackson Stockwell, 93, died Monday, June 30, 2025, at the Pavillion in Penney Farms, Clay County, Florida. The daughter of Walter Drew Jackson (1908 – 1998) and Vernia Bell Knowles (1912 – 1999), she was born in Lee Madison County, Florida on March 12, 1932. Other children born to the couple were Kenneth, Barbara, Helen, Patricia, Bobby and Melba.

Mrs. Stockwell is survived by sisters Melba Dowdy, Penney Farms, Florida and Barbara Bourbon (Wes), Gainesville, Florida, brother Kenneth Jackson, Miramar, Florida and niece Sherrie Poblete of Norcross, Georgia with several other nieces and nephews. Christine was predeceased by her husband, Harlan Loomis Stockwell, Jr., sisters Helen and Patricia and brother Bobby.

Chris, as she was known, attended Norwood Elementary School, Kirby Smith Junior High School and Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida where she graduated on May 31, 1950. Admitted to Bessie Tift College in Forsyth, Georgia, Chris was elected Freshman Class President in 1950 and Student Government President in 1953. Selected to appear in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges 1954 and conferred a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1955.

Planning to serve as a medical missionary, Chris entered Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and was admitted to the Master of Religious Education degree in 1957. She completed Clinical Pastoral Training at North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1961. Awarded a Bachelor of Science Nursing degree from Vanderbilt University in 1964, Chris practiced as a registered Nurse on the staff of the men’s medical surgical ward in St. Luke’s Hospital and provided home management services for public health patients in Duval and Polk counties until 1968.

Nurse Chris met and married insurance investigator Harlan Loomis Stockwell, Jr. on August 18, 1972, in First Baptist Church, Winter Haven, Polk County, Florida. The couple settled in Jacksonville, Florida where they attended and served Westside Baptist Church with leadership in the New Members Class and visitation team. The couple moved their membership to Shindler Drive Baptist Church where they participated in the adult Bible study groups. Christine was a schoolteacher in several Polk and Duval County public schools between 1968 – 2001.

Harlan Loomis Stockwell, Jr. died on February 4, 2024, in Orange Park, Clay County, Florida and was buried at Jacksonville Memory Gardens Cemetery. Christine moved into assisted living at Penney Farms Community in Clay County, Florida in March 2024. 

Funeral services in celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday July 11, 2025 at Shindler Drive Baptist Church, 7100 Shindler Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32222 with Rev. Brandon Zortman officiating.  Christine will be laid to rest in a private ceremony later that afternoon. Family members will greet friends immediately prior to and following the service at the church.

All are encouraged to share photos, condolences, and other remembrances of Christine on the Tribute Wall here.