Jean Catherine Hancock Gilley, formerly of Stuart, Va., and recently of Mechanicsville, Va., completed her earthly journey, age 91 years, and was called to the waiting embrace of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Thursday, September 5, 2024. She was a life partner in service to the Lord with her husband, the late Reverend Fred Thomas Gilley, Sr. Jean fulfilled the duties of parson’s spouse, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and first grade teacher with tireless devotion, unfailing commitment, and boundless love. Mrs. Gilley’s career in public school education spanned 39 years of full-time teaching in various Virginia school systems and 16 years of nearly full-time, part-time substitute teaching in Patrick County, Va. Mrs.
Gilley was preceded in death, after 66 years of marriage, by her husband Fred, Sr., sons Fred Thomas Gilley, Jr., and Helms Moran Gilley, her parents, the late Henry Forrest Hancock and Myrtle Helms Hancock, formerly of Vesta, Va., her sisters, Mrs. Jeraldean “Jerry” Hancock Harrell (William “Bill” D., dec.), Mrs. Anne Hancock Underwood (Fred D., dec.), Mrs. Betty Jo Hancock Ayers (Ellis E., dec.), and brother Michael F. Hancock (Lucinda). Jean is survived by her sister, Mrs. Irene Hancock Morrow (Rodger W., dec.), son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey F. Gilley and Elena S. Gilley, four grandchildren, one great-grandchild, truly loving and supportive extended Hancock and Gilley Families, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. Jean and Fred are both survived by a wonderful, caring “adopted daughter” who helped them both beyond measure in their later lives, Ms. Sue Bleckley of Stuart, Va.
Jean was born August 6, 1933, near Rocky Knob, Floyd County, Virginia delivered at home by a midwife per stories told by her mother Myrtle. She was the eldest of the 6 children born to her parents. After her birth and the arrival of siblings, her parents moved to the Vesta area. She attended Mountain View Church in her childhood and early teen years. Jean attended Meadows of Dan School through 10th grade, and completed a college preparatory high school curriculum and junior college at (former) Ferrum Jr. College in Rocky Mount, Va. She later transferred to Lynchburg College (University) where she earned her 4-year degree, Class of 1954. Jean subsequently earned a Master of Arts degree from Longwood College (University), Farmville, Va.
Jean and her husband Fred both benefitted from the Ferrum tuition assistance program of the time which were the school dairy and produce farms, kitchen, and other work which supported the operation of the school regardless of the socio-economic status of the student; every student worked.
After eloping with her sweetheart Fred from her Ferrum days, marrying on October 9, 1954, and teaching one school year in Patrick County, 1954-1955, she and her husband accepted their first charge appointment in the Virginia Methodist Conference, Clover-Scottsburg in Halifax County, Virginia. Her first son was born during this first Conference assignment in November 1955, and she taught for the Halifax Co. School System. An appointment in Nokesville, Va. followed where she taught in the Catlett School, Fauquier Co. Her classroom was heated with a wood stove which Jean had to personally stoke. Appointment to the NC Conference in Raleigh, NC while her husband attended seminary followed along with the birth of her second son (1962). Subsequent Virginia Conference appointments were Dry Fork where she taught in the Pittsylvania Co. school system, Keysville, Va., teaching in the Charlotte Co. school system, the North Amelia Charge (Epworth, Salem, and Holly Hills), continuing tenure with the Jean H. Gilley Obit, 5 Sep 2024 Charlotte Co. school system after a year break for the birth of her third son (1968), Gordonsville, VA and Salem and Vinton, VA. Jean sang in the choirs of charge appointments and also played piano during many assignments. She participated in Methodist Women, Methodist Youth, and all of the various Church activities at all of the appointments during her husband’s active ministry with the Virginia (United) Methodist Conference. When her husband became a “full-time, part-time” minister with local churches in Patrick County after his retirement from the Virginia Conference, Jean was a full participant in the activities at each ecumenical calling.
The Reverend Thomas Shepherd, pastor of the Stuart Church of Living Water, will lead the life celebration service for Jean at the Moody Funeral Services Chapel in Stuart at 3:00 pm, Sunday, September 8th, 2024. Visitation with family will occur an hour and a half prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of Jean be made to Alzheimer’s research, Stuart Church of Living Water, or to charitable good works of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.moodyfuneralservices.com.
