Jill Palmer - Obituary

ill Marie Nieman Palmer, also known as Jilly, passed away peacefully on March 22, 2021. She was born on January 30, 1965 in Takoma Park, MD to Kathryn and the late Darrell Nieman, Sr. Jill was began working in the event industry in 1983 when she joined National Trade Productions in Lanham, MD. There Jill honed her show management skills and earned the prestigious event industry designation of CEM, or, Certified Exposition Manager. In 1993 Jill was recruited by Production Group International, an event management firm located in Arlington, VA. It was there she began working with NBC4 Washington to produce a Health & Fitness Expo. While working with NBC Washington, Jill recognized the opportunity to share this successful event model with other television stations and replicate the program in new markets. Jill co-founded Network Events, Inc. in 1999 and served as Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer and was affectionately referred to as “Chiefie” by her team. As an NEI executive, Jill was able to pursue her passion and dedication to health and fitness through her work with NBC and the many health and fitness expos her firm supported across the country. In her spare time, Jill enjoyed relaxing at the beach and spending time at her Ocean City home, especially in the evenings when she would take beautiful photos of the moon. In addition to her mother, Jill is survived by her two children, Justin Palmer of Edgewater and his companion, Amy, and Hailey Schackelford of Crofton, MD and her husband, Jeff. She is also survived by four siblings and their families: Margie Smith of Ridgely, MD, her husband, Stephen, and their children, Katy (Brent); and Jeff (Hannah); Darrell Nieman of Mt. Airy, MD, his wife, Chrissy, and their children, Blair, Rylee, Grace and Ryan; Charlie Nieman of Nags Head, NC, his wife, Jennifer, and their children, Jon, Brittany and Chris; and Penny McClay of Odenton, MD, her husband, Jimmy and their children, Zach, Kennedy, Jake and Delaney. Jill is also survived by a great-nephew, Roran and great-niece, Caroline. Friends are invited to celebrate Jill’s life with her family on Saturday, March 27 from 9AM to 11AM at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD 21122. Online condolences may be offered using the Memory Wall tab at the top of this page.