Mrs. Jennifer Lynne Kessinger

Jennifer passed quietly after a hard-fought and courageous battle with COVID-19. She was surrounded by her most cherished loved ones and lifelong besties, who will continue to honor her legacy of strength, loyalty, inspiration, humor, and kindness.

Jennifer was born in Manchester, NH and moved to Tallahassee for college after high school in Leesburg, FL. It was here that she met her future husband of 25 years, Jay Kessinger, with whom she created the most amazing family. She obtained her Bachelors in Marketing from Florida State University in 1994 and her Masters in Communications in 2002. The extraordinary number of lives she touched as an advocate for college students, adult learners, and aspiring lawyers is immeasurable. After 6 years at Keiser University as the Vice President of Student Services, she took her talents to her Alma Mater, FSU, rising to the position of Dean for Admissions at the Law School. Lifelong learning, leadership, compassion, and personal responsibility are all characteristics that she inspired in everyone she met. It never mattered if the individual was a self-doubting college student, a stranger in the community, a nervous parent, or recent graduate – Jennifer believed in them, and could always envision one’s success through higher education.

While she was successful and highly respected in the field of postsecondary education, Jennifer’s passion in life was her family. In the hospital, she was fueled by family and God. Logan, Jay and Kendall are what kept her going. Countless days and nights were spent with her, getting her what she needed, putting gas in her tank, and giving her plenty of reasons to fight and stay strong. There were not many times when she was alone, between someone always being there and all of the tokens of love in her room sent and brought by family and friends. Her enormous, emanating love leaves an everlasting footprint on all of the lives she touched. WE are all so blessed and better for having been a part of HER life. She will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered.

As partners, she and her husband started their family business, Fire Professionals of Tallahassee, LLC in 2011. Jay and Logan, with the support of Jennifer’s sisters, will continue serving the fire suppression needs of the community of Tallahassee that has been their home for over 25 years.

She has been survived by the love of her life and best friend Jay Kessinger; devoted son, Logan (Tiffany); maturing daughter, Kendall; mother, Brenda Sullivan; father, Joseph John Lacroix; sister, Jessica Tison (Don); sister, Nancy Sullivan (niece, Devin and nephew, Maxton); sister, Abby Brooks (Brandon, niece, Kylie, and nephew, Mikey); brother, Dan Sullivan (Tina); brother, Sean Sullivan (niece, Shaelin, and nephew, Liam); and brother, Joseph Norman Lacroix (nephew, Levi); best friends, Kristin, Maria, and Sherah; her dogs, Bart and Dart; and too many more to mention. She was welcomed into the heavens by her recently departed step-mother, Elizabeth Lacroix; step-father Daniel Sullivan, Jr. and, of course, God. She will forever shine on as the brightest star in our sky.

Please join us for farewells at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home on Friday, November 19, 2021 at 6:30pm (700 Timberlane Road). We will continue with her Celebration of Life at Celebration Baptist Church on Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 11am (3300 Shamrock Street East).