Jean was born March 21, 1928, in Winston County, Mississippi to her parents Lottie Craig Estes and Littleton Worthy (Wert) Estes. Growing up in the Calvary community, she was the third of eight children in a family of two sisters and five brothers.
Jean graduated from Noxapater High School in 1946 and attended East Central Junior College to receive an associate degree in education and soon began teaching in rural, county schools and living in teacher housing in Winston County during the early 50’s. She often expressed that those days were difficult as there were few and inadequate amenities in the rural schools. She taught combined grade levels grouped in one classroom which had a chalk board and few textbooks. Jean furthered her education at Mississippi College where she completed a BA degree in secondary education. At Louisville High School, she taught her favorite subjects which were English and literature. Mrs. Woodruff’s high expectations for her students to incorporate grammar and mechanics into composition earned her a legacy of being remembered as their favorite English teacher. Her love for teaching touched many students’ lives over the span of 38 years that she taught in the local school system.
Jean met the love of her life and husband Don Woodruff by accepting a double date arranged by a close teacher friend Mary Catherine McGee and her husband James (Fibber) McGee. She and Don were married on February 11, 1965 at Calvary Baptist Church with only the pastor, his wife, Donnie Woodruff and Donnie’s grandfather, Oscar Thompson attending. She and Don enjoyed a wonderful marriage of twenty years until the time of Don’s death in 1985.
Jean was a caregiver with a servant’s heart for her family, friends, and neighbors. She always seemed to effortlessly have the time needed to take care of her family members and help out with her grandchildren, nieces and nephews who always held a special place in her heart and home. Her love for serving others was spent helping her friends and neighbors who needed meals, rides to church, grocery shopping or taking them to appointments.
Her favorite past time and hobby was found in her own back yard where she made sure there was a plant for every season. She found simple joy in seeing her garden grow, flowers blooming, and getting to add a treasured plant given to her from a friend or a fellow gardener. Jean took pride in meticulously caring for her lawn and garden independent of any help. In fact, she was the sole gardener mowing her lawn with a self-propelled lawn mower until she was 91 years old.
Jean was a member of First Baptist Church of Louisville where she continued her love for teaching. She would spend countless hours studying God’s Word and preparing lessons. Over a period of 40 years, she was a dedicated Sunday School teacher to many different groups of ladies. However, her favorite years were spent teaching her age group known to her as “The Golden Girls” and being a member of the JOY group which they were proudly known as Just Older Youth. She was awarded FBC’s Senior Saint of the Year in 2004.
Jean and her close friends enjoyed sharing lunches, programs at the church each month and taking bus tours with Bro. Billy Bowie. Jean truly enjoyed playing cards with her group of card playing buddies who met faithfully on Friday nights to play Rook. Saturday nights were reserved for a trip out of town to eat catfish. The big decision was, “Who wanted to drive?”
At the age of 93, Jean became a resident at the Bee Hive Home of Louisville. Instantly the staff and fellow residents developed a special bond of friendship and love with Jean. She enjoyed the comradery and the loving, caring atmosphere where she would live for three years.
As a norm, a 95th birthday, if you live to be that old, is definitely considered to be a mile marker in life. Against much persuasion to celebrate her 95th birthday with a grand birthday party, Jean Woodruff refused. Rather than focusing on herself, she chose to raise $95 and donate the money to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital only asking for a one-dollar gift. The Chief of Operations of the Bee Hive Assisted Living, Melba Reed, posted “Mrs. Jean’s” request on their Facebook page. The staff immediately raised $20, but the request went viral. Cards began flooding the mail each day with donations in honor of Jean from family, friends, former students, and from people she did not even know. Within a matter of weeks, the 95-year-old Jean Woodruff had raised and donated over $2300 to St. Jude. She took great pleasure in keeping every one of her cards and counting each dollar.
Jean is survived by her son, Donald M. Woodruff, Jr. and wife, DeLaine; her brother, Jerry Estes and wife, Ilene, all of Louisville. One of her greatest joys was her two grandchildren, Trey (Allison) Woodruff and Joy (Stephen) Busenlehner; her great-grandchildren: Mallory Busenlehner Meyer (Mac), Maddie Busenlehner, Andrew Busenlehner, Colin Woodruff, and John Woodruff. She also leaves behind four sisters-in-law: Patty Estes, Faith Estes, Jane Estes, and Jean Claire Woodruff; as well as loving nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends. Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Donald M. Woodruff, Sr., her parents, and her siblings: Dee Estes, Bob Estes, Wayne (Sylvia) Estes, M. O. Estes, Maxine (Dee) McCool, Elsie (J. C.) Carter, and nephew, Craig Estes.
Jean enjoyed a blessed life of 96 years. She valued the simple and important things in life. And if she knew you, she valued her relationship with you beyond measure. Her motto in life was to “Keep it simple.” Only could we offer this tribute to her posthumously, for she would have only agreed to a short paragraph about her awesome life.
We, the Woodruff family, would like to thank the staff of the Bee Hive Home of Louisville, Dr. Gentry, Winston Medical Center, and Quality Hospice Care, Inc. for the exceptional care that they have given to Jean which went far beyond our expectations.
Services are under the direction of Nowell Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.
