Official Obituary of
Jeanne B. Fessenden
October 4, 1935 ~ December 10, 2016 (age 81) 81 Years Old
Jeanne Fessenden Obituary
A loving, devoted, and generous daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Jeanne shared her faith, talents, and heart with everyone she met.
Jeanne, born Mabel Jeanne Binion October 4, 1935 to the late William Thomas Binion and Mabel Hoskin Binion in Brewton, Alabama, graduated from T. R. Miller High School in 1953.
She studied the next four years at the University of Alabama, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She later received a Master of Arts in Education from Alabama. She played clarinet in the Million Dollar Band from 1953 to 1956 at the University, where she met her future husband, Charles Arthur Fessenden. She was also a member of Delta Gamma Sorority.
After graduation, she began teaching in Montgomery, Alabama. She and Chuck were married on June 7, 1958 and had two daughters, Laura Jeanne Fessenden in 1963, and Julia Anne Fessenden in 1966. After moving to Columbus, Georgia in 1967, she began teaching at East Highland Elementary School, where she taught until it was closed and demolished. She began teaching in the program for gifted students and remained with that program until her retirement in 1998.
She was an active member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an International Honorary Teachers' Sorority, for over 50 years and was still a member at her death.
In 1997, she was honored as one of WTVM's Special Friends. She was also honored as one of 5 women by the Columbus Branch of The National League of American Pen Women.
Jeanne was actively involved with Odyssey of the Mind (an International Program of Creative and Problem-Solving students from Kindergarten through college) coaching teams from 1988 through 2000. Many of her teams went on to compete at World Finals held on various college campuses around the United States. After retiring, she became the State Director of Odyssey of the Mind, an organization she continued to support as an active board member until 2015.
Jeanne and Chuck loved to travel. They visited all 50 states, Europe and China. Jeanne's love for National Parks took them to many places; visiting two-thirds of the Parks over the years.
She was a volunteer at the Springer Opera House for over 25 years. She also volunteered at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, receiving a plaque in December 2012 for over 2,000 volunteer hours of service. She was a long-time volunteer with the Wynnton Neighborhood Network as well.
She was an active member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church and served as an usher and Lay Eucharistic Minister.
Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents and only sibling, her brother William Thomas Binion, Jr.
Survivors include Chuck, her husband of 58 years, two daughters, Laura Ruffner (Sam) and Julia Slater (Steve), and four grandchildren, whom she adored, Hayley Walker, Winston Walker and twins Stephen and William Slater.
The Burial Service and Eucharist will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, December 17, 2016 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Prior to the service, a private Interment of ashes will be in the St. Thomas Columbarium. All guests are invited to a reception in the St. Thomas Fellowship Hall immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church (2100 Hilton Avenue, Columbus, GA 31906) or to the Fessenden Fund, a scholarship established by Georgia Odyssey of the Mind in memory of Jeanne (Checks payable to Georgia Odyssey of the Mind, memo: Fessenden Fund, 1216 West Lakeshore Drive, Dalton, GA 30720).
Jeanne, born Mabel Jeanne Binion October 4, 1935 to the late William Thomas Binion and Mabel Hoskin Binion in Brewton, Alabama, graduated from T. R. Miller High School in 1953.
She studied the next four years at the University of Alabama, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She later received a Master of Arts in Education from Alabama. She played clarinet in the Million Dollar Band from 1953 to 1956 at the University, where she met her future husband, Charles Arthur Fessenden. She was also a member of Delta Gamma Sorority.
After graduation, she began teaching in Montgomery, Alabama. She and Chuck were married on June 7, 1958 and had two daughters, Laura Jeanne Fessenden in 1963, and Julia Anne Fessenden in 1966. After moving to Columbus, Georgia in 1967, she began teaching at East Highland Elementary School, where she taught until it was closed and demolished. She began teaching in the program for gifted students and remained with that program until her retirement in 1998.
She was an active member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an International Honorary Teachers' Sorority, for over 50 years and was still a member at her death.
In 1997, she was honored as one of WTVM's Special Friends. She was also honored as one of 5 women by the Columbus Branch of The National League of American Pen Women.
Jeanne was actively involved with Odyssey of the Mind (an International Program of Creative and Problem-Solving students from Kindergarten through college) coaching teams from 1988 through 2000. Many of her teams went on to compete at World Finals held on various college campuses around the United States. After retiring, she became the State Director of Odyssey of the Mind, an organization she continued to support as an active board member until 2015.
Jeanne and Chuck loved to travel. They visited all 50 states, Europe and China. Jeanne's love for National Parks took them to many places; visiting two-thirds of the Parks over the years.
She was a volunteer at the Springer Opera House for over 25 years. She also volunteered at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, receiving a plaque in December 2012 for over 2,000 volunteer hours of service. She was a long-time volunteer with the Wynnton Neighborhood Network as well.
She was an active member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church and served as an usher and Lay Eucharistic Minister.
Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents and only sibling, her brother William Thomas Binion, Jr.
Survivors include Chuck, her husband of 58 years, two daughters, Laura Ruffner (Sam) and Julia Slater (Steve), and four grandchildren, whom she adored, Hayley Walker, Winston Walker and twins Stephen and William Slater.
The Burial Service and Eucharist will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, December 17, 2016 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Prior to the service, a private Interment of ashes will be in the St. Thomas Columbarium. All guests are invited to a reception in the St. Thomas Fellowship Hall immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church (2100 Hilton Avenue, Columbus, GA 31906) or to the Fessenden Fund, a scholarship established by Georgia Odyssey of the Mind in memory of Jeanne (Checks payable to Georgia Odyssey of the Mind, memo: Fessenden Fund, 1216 West Lakeshore Drive, Dalton, GA 30720).
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