Thelma Jeanne Conover, 1924-1999Jeanne Conover was a person who reached out to people where they were and enriched their lives. Everyone who came in contact with her was blessed by her spirit of caring and service. It’s safe to say that she had the ability to understand the needs of others and to perceive, almost before a word was spoken, where their needs were and how to transmit to them the healing power of God’s love, making God’s presence a reality to them in any given circumstance. Jeanne’s life of Christian service began during her adolescence when, as a high school sophomore, she felt a clear call to devote her life to God’s call. She was born July 1, 1924, in Canton, Ohio, and grew up in the area of Akron and Cleveland, graduating from East High School in Cleveland. Jeanne’s undergraduate studies were done at National College in Kansas City and West Virginia Wesleyan in Buckhannon, West Virginia. Scarritt College in Nashville was where Jeanne did her graduate work. She later received the Master of Divinity from St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City in 1974. The years between these studies were marked with outstanding service to her church in varied tasks and places as she answered God’s call. First, upon completion of her undergraduate work, Jeanne served as a deaconess under the Woman’s Division of the United Methodist Board of Missions, where she devoted 22 years in Christian education and leadership development, mainly in children’s ministries. She served in community centers as Church and Community worker in West Virginia, North East Ohio, and northern Mississippi. Jeanne also served on the conference staff in North West Texas and, in the then Oklahoma Indian Missions Conference, as coordinator of Children’s Work. During these years, a strong call to the ministry manifested itself in Jeanne’s life and she attended seminary at St. Paul’s. After graduation and ordination as elder in 1976 in the Oklahoma Conference, she was called to work as chaplain at St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond. Jeanne maintained her membership in the Oklahoma Conference, but became an associate member of the Virginia Conference. It was through her work as chaplain that Jeanne reached the high point of her ministry — touching the lives of those who were suffering and whose hearts were burdened with fear and pain, bringing them the comfort of God’s Word and presence in their need. This ministry was, in every sense, an affirmation of her call to serve and she is remembered warmly by the patients to whom she ministered, as well as by their families whose lives she touched. The staff of the hospital who were her co-workers deeply appreciated Jeanne and her work. After retirement in 1990, Jeanne enjoyed a time of renewal, visiting many places she had wanted to see. Jeanne entered the Nursing Unit of Brooks-Howell Home for retired deaconesses and missionaries in Asheville, N.C., in June 1999. A sudden heart attack took her life in December 1999. A beautiful memorial service was held there for her on December 11. Jeanne’s brother, Dick, and her sister, Jo, survived. Jo, however, has since passed away. Jeanne is also survived by several nieces and nephews and many friends. Jeanne was a faithful friend and companion, sharing my life for some 30 years. Indeed, my life has been greatly enriched by having known her. — Ruth B. Lucy |