Rita Jackson

Rita Vaughn Jackson, 78, of Charlottesville, Virginia, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2026.

Born on October 1, 1947, in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, she was the beloved daughter of William Vaughn and Twila McDowell.

Rita graduated from Philipsburg Osceola High School and, guided by a deep calling to care for others, continued her education at the Mercy School of Nursing in Altoona, Pennsylvania. After completing her training, she proudly served as a nurse in the United States Air Force, offering steady compassion and exceptional skill to those who served alongside her.

Following her military service, Rita devoted more than two decades to public health as a nurse with the Thomas Jefferson Health Department. Her work touched countless lives and reflected her unwavering belief in service, dignity, and care for every person she encountered.

Rita is survived by her daughter, Julianne Giuliano, and her husband Gordon, along with their daughters, Vaughn and Jackson of Charlottesville, Virginia; her daughter, Jennifer Jackson, and her wife, Sherry, along with their children, Brittany, Amber, and Caleb, and granddaughter, Mia, of Fluvanna, Virginia; her brother, Richard Vaughn, of Fluvanna, Virginia. Her family was her greatest joy, and she took immense pride in each generation that followed her.

She will be remembered with enduring love, deep gratitude, and profound admiration.