Support J.D. Southall's Family following loss

With a heavy heart, we share the news of the passing of Jarrell Duncan “J.D.” Southall on August 16, 2022 at the age of 58. He was hard-working, strong-minded, caring, goofy, and, most of all, loved by his family and friends. It was an honor to know him.

Jarrell Duncan "J.D." Southall in full military dress

Jarrell Duncan “J.D.” Southall died peacefully August 16, 2022 in his Portland, Oregon home, the day after his 58th birthday. Father to Wally and Sara, husband to Jennifer, and grandfather to Emily and Owen, JD was a decorated military veteran, boy scout leader, child welfare specialist, and provider to his family. His sudden death has not only left them heartbroken but financially vulnerable.

We are grateful to those who have asked how they can help Jennifer and Wally navigate this terrible transition. Your kindness is appreciated tremendously as J.D.'s family navigates this heartbreaking moment. In addition to the emotional toll, the financial burdens related to the loss of a spouse and parent can be overwhelming and, in this case, exacerbated by the fact that J.D. was the primary income source for his family.

It's our turn to advocate for the advocate!

Jen is an amazing and talented mother, coach, disability/inclusion advocate, and tireless champion for her fellow Deaf community members. As she processes the loss of J.D. and supports Wally through the emotional trauma of his father's untimely death, she also faces a new reality without income from J.D.'s job.

Jen not only needs our love and prayers but also our financial and professional support.

In addition to donating what you can afford to help her with her day-to-day expenses, please also consider referring her to employment opportunities. Her resume is deep, her talents vast, and her potential as an employee unlimited. To know Jen is to know someone who NEVER, ever gives up and NEVER, ever uses her disability (she is Deaf) as an excuse or justification for doing less than others. The Deaf community needs her. We all need her.

All donations to this GoFundMe will be placed in an account to help with day-to-day living expenses for Wally and Jen - mortgage, utilities, groceries, and more. They will also enable Wally to find continuity and emotional stability by underwriting the fees for participating in his travel ice hockey team. To know the Southalls is to know how much they love and NEED hockey. Any additional funds will be placed into an account to support Wally's continuing education and Jen's plans for an advanced degree. The degree will enable her to increase her earning potential while demonstrating that being Deaf does not preclude one from achieving the highest levels educationally and professionally.

We hope you will join us in supporting J.D.'s family at this time.

Jennifer and J.D.

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ABOUT J.D. SOUTHALL [LINK to Obituary]

Jarrell Duncan "J.D." Southall was born Aug. 15, 1964 in Lake Village, Ark., to Jarrell E. and Barbara Southall. He received his bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Oregon in 1999. He also received a certificate in foreign language from the University of Indiana and in Civil Affairs from the U.S. Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

He served over 20 years in the U.S. Marines, the Oregon National Guard, and Army Reserves. He deployed to Iraq twice, first in 2004 as a Captain with the Oregon National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, then again in 2007 as a Civil Affairs reservist recalled to active duty with the 478th CA Bn. He played a critical role in helping turn the tide in the Sunni death triangle as part of Babil PRT. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2009-10 for one final combat tour as a CA Major with 405th CA BN/ PRT Nuristan. He retired from the military in 2012 with full honors.

A man and his Mustang - J.D.'s happy place with Jen and Wally

JD played a crucial role in a 2004 episode in which Oregon National Guard troops rolled into an Iraqi government compound to stop the abuse of civilians by Iraqi officials in the newly established post-Saddam Hussein regime. The intervention made international news, though higher-ranking U.S. officials ordered the Oregon troops to leave and return custody of the civilians to the Iraqis. Southall was the first Oregon soldier to go on record about what happened.

He was a child welfare specialist with the State of Oregon from 2014 until his death. He volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America and the Department of Veterans Affairs, serving as the founder and former chairman of the Veterans Employee Resource Group of the Oregon Department of Human Services. He was also an automobile enthusiast, showing special affection for his Ford Mustang and delighting in taking his family for spins in his prized possession.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Southall of Portland; a daughter, Sara Long, of Conway, Ark.; a son, Jackson (Wally); and two grandchildren, Emily and Owen Long. He is also survived by a brother, Charles, of Carmel, Ind., and his father, Jarrell, of Phoenix, Ariz. He is preceded in death by his mother, Barbara.

The family plans a private burial, with a public celebration of life to follow at a later date. Outside of the GoFundMe, the family suggests remembrances in J.D.’s name to the PTSD/Traumatic Brain Injury programs at the Portland VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97239.

Semper Fi, Marine

We love you and will forever miss you so much. Til' we see you again in Valhalla.

J.D. and Wally at the ice rink