Jean was born in Philadelphia to Anne Beatrice Collins and John George Emil Roeger, an optometrist in downtown Philadelphia. She met her husband, Graham Comer Freeman, at the church they both attended, Wayland Baptist Church, also in Philadelphia. Graham was studying to be a Baptist pastor so Jean left nursing school to marry him and become a full time pastor's wife and mother. Church was always a big part of Jean's life and in addition to being a pastor's wife she added Sunday and Bible School teacher and choir member to her list of contributions. Later she became an executive administrator for Long and Foster's Corporate Headquarters in Maryland.
While growing up Jean loved to draw and rekindled that passion later in retirement when she turned the sun room into a studio. She spent hours painting landscapes of remote beaches and wide open vistas. She also played the piano and used her gift to minister at the Baltimore Rescue Mission for 10 years and later at the Croatan Assisted Living in New Bern. Jean loved the beach and the ocean and took her family there for vacations and later moved to New Bern, NC to be closer to the water. In recent years Jean and Graham often could be found feeding the ducks and seagulls in nearby Union Grove Park. She was a voracious reader of autobiographies and Danielle Steel novels and enjoyed discussing the latest book she was reading.
She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years and sons, Paul and daughter-in-law Linda, and John and daughter-in-law Jennifer; daughter, Joye and son-in-law, Richard; and 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents and brother John "Jack" George Emil Roeger, Jr., and her dear daughter, Janelle Elise.
A memorial celebration of Jean's life will be held at a future date when it is again safe to gather together.
Arrangements are held by Cotten Funeral Home and Crematory.
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