Obituaries

Julia Brake JacksonPsychologist

Julia Brake Jackson, 78, a psychologist in private practice in the Washington area, died of lung cancer Jan. 1 at her daughter's home in Chevy Chase.

Ms. Jackson was born in Harrisburg, Pa., and grew up in Indianapolis, where she started out in community theater and radio. She married in 1948 and, as a young mother, had a successful radio show in Boston.

The family moved to Orono, Maine, in 1960 for her husband's job as an industrial psychologist, and there she hosted a television morning talk show called "The Women's Hour With Julia Brake." She graduated from Harvard in 1964.

Her husband, Maurie Edelstein, died in 1967. She then returned to Harvard and received a master's degree in education and psychology in 1971. She changed her last name to Jackson after her husband's death.

In 1972, she moved to Washington and practiced psychology for 35 years in the area. She provided pro bono counseling to many individuals and volunteered at Planned Parenthood. She had also lived in Silver Spring.

At age 73, Ms. Jackson began producing and hosting a weekly cable TV talk show in Montgomery County while continuing her psychology practice. She received a doctorate in 1997 from Delphi University and Spiritual Center in Georgia.

She was active in the Divine Science Church in Georgetown and served on the board of directors of the Harvard Club of Washington.

She was an accomplished potter, and she made jewelry. Her other interests included public speaking, reading and studying metaphysics.

Survivors include four daughters, Lee J. Long of Arlington, Julia J. Bellinger of Chevy Chase, Lois J. Boyd of Raleigh, N.C., and Lyn Jackson of Cary, N.C.; a brother; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

-- Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb