Jessie Mae Tench Wise went home at the age of 86 on Sunday, November 10th, after a brief illness.
She was born in Charles City on December 10, 1937 to Robert and Lucille Tench, and was raised at Peace Hill by Luther and Amelia Morecock. She met her husband, James Lafayette Wise, at Carson-Newman College in Tennessee, from which she graduated with honors. After their marriage, Jay entered the Navy and they lived in Massachussets, Maine, Puerto Rico, and Haiti before returning to Peace Hill in Charles City, where she spent the rest of her life.
Jessie was a loving mother and grandmother, and an active member of Peace Hill Christian Fellowship. She was generous of spirit and gave to an array of charitable organizations. She loved working in her garden, which she spent decades improving and refining. She also enjoyed caring for her chickens, and spent thirty years teaching Sunday School with her meticulously organized flannelgraph collection.
Jessie was a lifelong educator who taught elementary and middle school in five different states and foreign countries. She was a pioneer in home education and the co-author of The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home. Her reading and grammar texts have helped children worldwide.
Jessie was predeceased by her husband of 65 years. She is survived by her children, Bob, Susan and Debbie; by her grandchildren, Madison, Chris, Ben, Dan, Emily, Brooke, Linus, Newton, and Dot; and by her great-granddaughter Siobhan.
A memorial service will be held at Peace Hill Christian Fellowship on Sunday, December 29th at 3 PM. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Heifer International in Jessie’s honor. Gifts of chickens would be particularly meaningful!
