Jean Anne Willis Vernon

It’s with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Jean Anne Willis Vernon, longtime resident of Brunswick, GA. Jean’s positive attitude, generosity, playful spirit and kindness toward everyone were her hallmarks throughout life. It’s ironic that her huge heart was what gave out in the end; even at 92, she left us too soon.

Jean was born in Newark, NJ to Anna and Robert Willis just months before the stock market crash of 1929. Growing up in the Great Depression and caring for her grandfather at home shaped her life and future vocation as a nurse. Jean attended Averett College in Danville, VA, where she met North Carolina State University student Marshall Vernon on a blind date. After graduation in 1952 from Columbia University School of Nursing in New York City, Jean and Marshall married, settling in Wilmington, DE for Marshall’s job as a chemical engineer with Hercules, Inc.

Jean and Marshall and their growing family moved briefly to Savannah, GA and Franklin, VA and then to the Milwaukee, WI area where they spent 16 years. A self-proclaimed “domestic engineer,” Jean poured her energy into her children’s school and other activities, including Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and the PTA, where her end of the school-year French toast lunches were legendary. Marshall’s job took them to Brunswick in 1973, where Jean became even more active with the Girl Scouts, continuing to serve as a troop leader, cookie mom, trainer, day camp nurse and Savannah council board member. She considered her involvement with Girl Scouting the most impactful thing she ever did—thousands of girls and women who directly or indirectly benefitted from her decades of volunteering would undoubtedly agree.

With her children in school, Jean returned again to professional nursing, championing mental health care by helping to open and serving as head nurse of the mental health unit at Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital (now Southeast Georgia Regional Medical Center). Sometimes known as “Super Nurse,” Jean was looking forward to attending her 70th class reunion at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in May, having just written a featured article about her time in nursing school for the alumni magazine. She lived a life of service to others, including being a tireless advocate for racial and social justice.

Jean and Marshall traveled extensively, going on cruises, camping and participating in Elderhostels (now Road Scholars) around the world. On a trip to Alaska, Marshall suffered a stroke and became disabled; Jean lovingly cared for him until his death in 2003. Jean adored her grandchildren and shared her love of travel and nature by taking them individually on an annual “adventure with Grammy.”

Jean was a faithful and active member of First Presbyterian Church in Brunswick. She served as an elder in the church, chair of pastor nominating committees and moderator of the PCUSA General Assembly. Later in life, she felt called as a lay pastor, finding joy in researching sermons and leading worship. Though not a singer, she loved attending the music and worship conferences at Montreat, the Presbyterian conference center near Asheville, NC. In 2016, Jean was honored by the Golden Isles YMCA at its annual Tribute to Women Leaders for her life-long service to the community.

During the COVID pandemic, Jean kept healthy and sane with jigsaw and crossword puzzles, riding her adult tricycle around the neighborhood and continuing to serve on various boards and committees, conducting meetings via Zoom. She was thrilled when vaccinations were available as it meant that her Brunswick Country Club ladies poker group could meet again in person. She loved those social outlets, including Ivy League Club gatherings and playing golf into her 90s. Jean was always up for a game of Scrabble and regularly beat opponents a fraction of her age.

Part of Jean’s legacy are her children and their spouses Cynthia Vernon and Monta Potter (Monterey, CA), Jim and Maria Vernon (Santa Rosa Beach, FL), Virginia Vernon (Atlanta), and Robert and Laura Vernon (Martinsville, NJ); her grandchildren Reid (Natalie), Nate (Megan Stoddard), Andrew and Lindsey Vernon; and her newly born great-grandchild Benjamin Henry Marshall Vernon. Jean was preceded in death by her brother, Bruce Willis, and her beloved husband Marshall.

A service to celebrate Jean’s remarkable life will be held on Saturday, April 2 at 2 PM at First Presbyterian Church, Brunswick, GA, officiated by Reverend Janice West, Reverend Lou Ellen Hartley, and Reverend Greg Garris. Visitation is on Friday from 4 to 6 PM at Edo Miller Funeral Home. All who were touched by Jean over her years of service to many communities and organizations are welcome. Jean can be honored with gifts to Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia Council, First Presbyterian Church of Brunswick or your favorite charity. And next time you can, raise a glass of Scotch in Jean’s honor and remember her guiding principle: “Play hard, be kind and take care.”