Jean Anderson

Jean Patricia Anderson, age 69, passed away Tuesday evening, January 12, 2021. She was born in Kittery, Maine on August 13, 1951 to Donald and Patricia Duffy.
She is survived by her beloved family and close friends, including her daughters, Stacey Miles (Jon) and Christy Pack (Sean) and her adored grandchildren who she greatly cherished, Will, Nicole, Brandon, Madison, Christian and Braxton. She is also survived by her brother, Kevin Duffy (Patty), and loving and dear friends, Sterling, Mrs. Ella and countless others. She is preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Patricia Duffy, and brother, Jack Duffy.
Jean, a longtime Gulfport resident and faithful member of Bel-Air Baptist church, graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi where she earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Special Education. A beacon for her peers in education and compassionate educator for her students, Jean championed special education for 31 years in Harrison County schools. She served as department chair for 27 years during her 28 years at Harrison Central High School. She also served as an Adult Basic Educator instructor (ABE) at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Her inherent passion and dedication for helping those with many different types of learning disabilities impacted so many and ensured they were able to lead a fulfilling life.
Her leadership and desire to help and serve others is her fundamental virtue. A founding member of Delta Gamma Fraternity, she supported fellow students and sought ways to work with extraordinary and special children. Her will has always been to protect the rights of disabled individuals. She was patient, loving and extremely skilled at meeting the individual needs of her students.
She loved living on the Gulf Coast. She had a natural green thumb, and the beautiful weather fostered her love of gardening. A talented seamstress, Jean loved quilting, but if you were looking for her, you were most likely to find her as the loudest cheerleader for her grandchildren at their numerous sporting events.
She genuinely loved people and would go out of her way to put others’ needs ahead of her own to make a situation better. As a relentless optimist, Jean saw the bright side of everything and always had a smile on her face. Her kindness, caring heart, sense of adventure and unique way of making every celebration and holiday special will be missed by all who knew her. To carry on her legacy for helping so many, a scholarship will be established at the University of Southern Mississippi for a special education major.
Visitation will be held Monday, January 18, 2021 from 1-2pm at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport, as a drive-thru, outside, under the canopy.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in honor of our mom and Nana to Ainsley’s Angels. There are several ways to donate:
Mail:
Ainsley’s Angels
In Memory of Jean Anderson
PO BOX 177
OCEAN SPRINGS, MS 39566

WEB DONATES: https://charity.gofundme.com/donate/event/AinsleysAngelsofAmerica [charity.gofundme.com]
CHOOSE SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND TEAM BETH MARIE

PAYPAL https://www.paypal.me/AinsleysAngels [paypal.me] : ADD IN NOTE FOR SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND JEAN’s NAME

WEBSITE: https://ainsleysangels.org/ [ainsleysangels.org]

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/AAinMississippi [facebook.com]