Jeannette grew up in Winston-Salem North Carolina but moved to Virginia to attend Mary Baldwin College where she majored in German. Jeannette loved studying German and after graduating was able to land her dream job, a two-year position, working at the US Embassy in Germany.

After returning to the United States, Jeannette’s life was full of challenges. She got married and had two children. Her marriage didn’t last very long and she struggled to raise her children as a single mom. She wanted to teach German but didn’t have the credentials so she settled for another teaching job that never felt quite right. Jeannette learned to accept what she couldn’t change.

In 2018, recovering from hip replacement surgery required an extended stay at her daughter's home in Rockingham County. Jeannette had always attended church and eventually found her way to Muhlenberg. On her first Sunday Jeannette received a warm welcome from the greeters. The handbell choir was playing that day and after the service Jeannette went to tell the director how lovely the music sounded and share that she had played bells at a previous church. Jeannette offered to be a substitute if there was ever a need but instead she was told she was needed right away as a ringer and it was for the exact bells she was used to playing. “I was looking for a community," Jeannette said, and from that very first visit different people at the church kept asking me to be a part of their ministry team.”

Since that first Sunday Jeannette has become involved with the Comfort Makers, the Care Committee, Handbell Choir, Bible Study, Sunday School and worship assistant. Jeannette has also discovered that she especially loves visiting people. “God gifted me with caring for others, and the ability to just listen.” “I look back on difficult times in my life and I can see that God was right there with me, showing me the way,” Jeannette said, “I’m glad I can share that message with those I visit who are sometimes also struggling to know God is there.”