“Irma” Jean Campbell Calef passed away peacefully the morning of Sept. 29, 2016.
Jean was born Nov. 5, 1927, to Lyle and Irma Campbell in Norman, Oklahoma, and was raised in Atlanta.
She attended Wesleyan College in Macon, receiving her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois. Her graduate work was done at the University of Illinois, University of Michigan, and Michigan State University with a master’s degree concentration in education. Her teaching career included Joliet High School and Junior College, University of Illinois, and schools within the Ann Arbor and Essexville, Michigan, school districts.
Jean moved to Flint, Michigan, with her family in 1966. She taught at Flint Southwestern, where she also began her career in high school counseling. She then went to Flint Central High School, where she served as assistant principal/head of counseling for 20 years. She retired in 1992, moving soon thereafter to scenic Rabun County.
Throughout her life Jean was active with several organizations and as a volunteer. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Mott College Women’s Club, Phi Delta Kappa, Congress of School Administrators, National Association for Counseling and Development, Business and Education Coordinating Council, Executive Board of Big Sisters and Bay Valley Hospice. Her dedicated volunteer work included Saint Joseph Hospital, Genesys Hospital, Docent at The Flint Institute of Arts, and Hospice.
In Rabun County, she was a volunteer at Tallulah Gorge State Park, Chamber of Commerce and Rabun County Library. Jean was a naturalist, a voracious reader and an experienced traveler. She was enthusiastic about the sciences and arts alike.
Jean Calef was a tremendous listener, a steady shoulder, an inspiration to many, and an exceptionally generous, strong, intelligent, fun, wise and witty woman.
Surviving are daughter Kathryn T. Calef of Los Angeles, California, son Robert C. Calef of Tawas City, Michigan, sister Margaret C. Cowan of Atlanta, and good friend and caregiver Barbara McKinley of Sky Valley.
Memorials may go to The Rabun County Library.
The Clayton Tribune, Oct. 6, 2016