JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Karl “Jay” Jabour III, 53, passed away Sunday, Sept. 25th, 2011, at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville surrounded by his wife, Marlene, son, Jason, daughter, Julie, family and friends.

A former city councilman and businessman in Jacksonville, “Jay” was born Oct. 2, 1957, in Vicksburg to Karl and Delores Jabour and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in political science. He was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity.

He was a very outgoing individual whose general greeting was either “my buddy” or “my friend” to anyone he met, and this was the kind spirited individual he was within the community.

Jay established Karl’s Clothiers in which he and Marlene served the apparel needs for men and women in Avondale, San Marco and more recently opening the new store in St. John’s Town Center. He and Marlene also owned and operated Brisson Funeral Home in Sanford, Fla.

Jay always felt very devoted to making our city a better and safer place to live and it was reflective in his city council legislation and community programs.

Jay was a member of the Jacksonville Economic Development Committee, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, the Sheriff’s Office Shadco committee, Southside Business Men’s Club, The Florida Funeral Director’s Association and many other business community committees.

Jay was consulted by many political and business community leaders on a daily basis because of his keen awareness of politics.

Jay was preceded in death by his father, Karl Jabour, who passed away in 2000 and brother-in-law Charles Mussallem.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marlene; and his children, Jason and Julie; his mother, Delores Hike Jabour; his sisters, Debbie Stuart and her husband, E. C. “Sonny,” and Karlene Slyman and her husband, Floyd, all of Jacksonville.

Jay will be greatly missed by his family and his many, many friends.

The pallbearers will be Danny Soud, Tim Shurling, Joe Stelma, Ronnie Soud, Richard Saig, Charles Mussallem IV, Michael Mussallem, George Ronald Abraham, Nelson D’Amour, Christopher Slyman, James Mussallem II, Alex Mussallem, Joseph Herro, Michael Herro, Charles Herro, Nicholas Herro, George Jabour Jr., Jim Gilmore, C.J. Mussallem, Ralph Mussallem and Jay Demetree.

The family will receive friends today, Sept. 28, from 6 until 7 p.m. The Rosary will follow at Assumption Catholic Church.

A funeral Mass will be said at Assumption Catholic Church at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, with interment to follow at Oaklawn Cemetery in Jacksonville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jay’s honor to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Arrangements are under the direction of Brisson Funeral Home in Sanford, Fla.

Friends may sign the guestbook here.