Jean Cornwell

Ellen Jean was a Scottish lass who was born in Staunton, VA. Lintithglow, Scotland was the birthplace of her father, Andrew B. Mann, who was called to become a minister and go across the seas to preach after he completed his education in Edinburgh, Scotland. Lacy Margaret Wolford was her mother who was born in Westernport, Maryland and was a school teacher. Jean was from a family of 7 children - 4 boys and 3 girls. The other 6 children passed on before her. Throughout her life she loved her family, her church and people of all ages - but especially children. As the oldest daughter of the Presbyterian minister in Thomas, WV, she was active in the church from a very young age, even singing a duet with her brother before the age of 4. Through the years she worked in the church teaching Sunday School, Bible School, and later singing in her home choir for many years. She organized the first young ladies circle in Thomas during the war years. She married Wayne Monroe Cornwell on December 22, 1940. They became the parents of two daughters: Sheila Jean Baumgardner and Tamara Lynette Harris. Sheila was their biological daughter and Tammy was their adopted daughter who was also their biological granddaughter. They also were blessed with two loving grandchildren / great grandchildren: Ben and Rachel Harris. Wayne and Jean were married for 57 years.
Jean graduated from Fairmont State College becoming an elementary school teacher. Her teaching years were in several states:
(1) Her first experience was in a one-room school in Jenningston, WV.
(2) Her second teaching job was in Fellowsville, WV teaching 4th grade music.
(3) Next was a teaching job as Travis Elementary School in Mineral Wells, Texas where she taught music to all eight grades.
(4) The next teaching job was in Piedmont, WV teaching 4th grade.
(5) Beginning in 1956, she taught 3rd grade in Anne Arundel County Schools, Maryland. Her schools were Richard Henry Lee, Glendale, and Glen Burnie Park Elementaries.
Health issues necessitated that she stop teaching. This time was very difficult for her since she could not be as active as in the past. Luckily, it was at this time in her life that Tammy came along and gave her joy. While in Fairmont, Jean was active in her church as a Superintendent of both the Nursery and Kindergarten Sunday Schools. She worked with children in a weekly group called "Happy Hour". She was a Brownie group leader as well during this time.
Wayne and Jean moved to Maryland in 1956. Upon her arrival she talked to Rev. Robert Bower telling him she wanted to do church work at Harundale Presbyterian Church. She was teaching school at this time. The chairman position had just opened in the church, so she accepted it, reorganizing the kindergarten department and the children's choirs after just one month. She organized at least two choirs for children aged 5 years through 6th grade, including the "Wee Choraliers" (ages 5 - 3rd grade) and the "Choristers" for children in grades 3 - 6 which was run by her sister, Janice Peters.
Ellen Jean loved music, reading, flowers, gardens, clouds, sunsets, birds, and writing poetry. "Nature is beautiful" she would often say. She wrote several songs for her children's choir. She collected tea pots and painted ceramics. She also enjoyed growing African violets. Her greatest interest, though, was in children and "teaching them properly." She believed "children are heaven in your hands", as she was quoted in a local newspaper.
Jean wrote many poems in her lifetime. During her last years, she would often make up rhymes. She loved to laugh and often would paraphrase the poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox when she would say, "If you laugh, the whole world laughs with you; if you cry, you cry alone!" Her sense of humor was still intact during the last few days of her live.
Some of the poems she penned were entitled:
(1) "Ode to an Astronaut" about John Glen's landing on the moon; she sent a copy to him, and it was published in the newspaper.
(2) "The Crystal Cathedral" about the beautiful snow and ice in West Virginia;
(3) "Our Grateful Refrain" which was dedicated to her father;
(4) "Wayne's Educational Ladder" which was written when Wayne retired from Anne Arundel County Public Schools and was read by his daughter Sheila at his retirement;
(5) Other poems about "Easter", "Christmas", "Mother";
(6) She also wrote many poems as tributes to her doctor, principals, and friends.
JEAN'S LAST YEARS:
Ellen Jean lived her last 17 years at Heritage Harbour Health and Rehabilitation Center in Annapolis, Maryland! After Wayne's passing in 1997, she experienced a health crisis that almost took her life. During her recovery she inexplicably lost her short term memory during the week before Christmas as the dementia and anxiety took hold. Sheila and Tammy looked for a place where they thought she would be taken care of as she was no longer capable of caring for herself.
We extend our gratitude to the workers for caring for her, especially in these last couple of years as she grew weaker and weaker. Thank you to Ramata, Sherae, Maryann, Kenny, Aida, Diya, Julie, Angie, Stella, Kelly S., Kelly B., Caitin, Samantha, the activities ladies, the dieticians, the therapists, and the many directors we encountered over the years. Jean was known as "Ice Cream Jean" by all the staff. They also would say, "Here comes the music teacher!" as she sang songs while rolling around in her wheelchair. She loved "Away in a Manger", "Jesus Loves Me", and "The Lord's Prayer". She remembered most of the song lyrics and tunes from year's past. She would say, "Beep, beep, here comes a jeep!" and then laugh. If you asked her how she was, she would reply, on a good day, "Fit as a fiddle and ready for love." She loved to talk about moonshine (of which she never had a drink in her life) and sing a song she knew about a drunken man in her hometown who lived there when she was growing up. A character she certainly was! The older she became the more she wanted to make people laugh.
We appreciate the Harundale Presbyterian Church and our friends, Hallie Jean and Jim Geist, who faithfully came every month during these last few years to give Jean Communion. She received her last communion from them about a week before she departed this earth!
JEAN'S MESSAGE:
Jean's message to her parents, all of her brother and sisters, aunts and uncles, many nieces and nephews, her husband, her daughters, and Ben and Rachel:
"I LEAVE MY LOVE TO ALL.
TRUST ALWAYS IN GOD."
We will miss her, but will never forget her.
May she rest in peace!

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