Jean F. Church

Jean Fredricka Church was the second child born to Joseph and Rachel McClendon in Elmsford, New York, on March 20, 1931. Her mother passed away when she was very young, and Jean and her two brothers, Joseph McClendon Jr. and Richard McClendon, were raised by their father in Harlem while he worked in the hotel and real estate business. During her childhood, Jean developed tuberculosis and had to stay in a solarium for two years. Once she was healthy, she was sent away to boarding school in Oxford, N.C. and graduated with honors from Mary Potter Academy in 1949, while also being voted the
best-dressed girl in her class as well as playing on the women’s basketball team.

Jean attended North Carolina State College for two years, where she continued playing basketball and became an All American in the process. After returning to New York City, she worked various jobs, including as a hospital administrator, while still enjoying her two favorite passions—basketball and fashion, often making her own clothes. In 1955 she met Albert Curtiss Church while studying for the police exam along with several other male and female basketball players in their circle. Out of 132 female applicants, 122 passed the police exam and Jean received the highest mark of any woman earning a score of 98.5.
By the time she was called to protect and serve she had married Albert in 1957, was pregnant with Curtiss Albert Church, her first child, and had already begun working for the New York Telephone Company. The family moved to Queens and Jean gave birth to her second child, Darcel Jean Church in 1961. Jean and Al enjoyed taking family vacations with their children, going on ski trips and vacationing in Martha’s Vineyard, as well as connecting with her extended family for reunions and cruises.

After working for the telephone company for more than 25 years, Jean retired in the mid-’80s and would often take the bus to
Atlantic City where she enjoyed playing the slot machines. She and Al purchased a home in Virginia Beach and after he retired a few years later, they made Virginia Beach their permanent residence and were very happy to have had both of her brothers living there at one time or another. She and Al started making yearly trips to Las Vegas as well as going on more cruises and they also enjoyed keeping their two grandsons during the summer. Her fear of flying usually meant that she and Al would travel separately, and although everyone constantly teased her about it, she enjoyed riding Amtrak cross country for days at a time.
Jean passed away peacefully on Nov. 26, 2019, surrounded by her family. She will be remembered for her many passions—sewing, reading, working crossword puzzles, gambling, and most importantly, her love for her family. She is preceded in death by her husband Albert and survived by her son, Curtiss Albert Church; daughter, Darcel Jean Church; daughter-in-law, Vanessa Felice Church; grandsons Curtiss Albert Church Jr., and Christopher McClendon Church; brother Richard McClendon; sisters-in-laws, Gladys Church, Alice Chesborough, and Geraldine McClendon; nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of extended family and friends.