Jean Teer Pryor

OBITUARY FOR JEAN TEER PRYOR Jean Andrea Teer Hutchins Pryor was born in St Louis, Missouri on February 18, 1941. Jean was the oldest of the six children raised by James Andrew and Bernice (Johnson) Teer. Until she was 3 years old, she lived in Southern Illinois, in a town called East St. Louis, located across the river from St. Louis Missouri. As a child, she lived with her parents’ families, in both the country part of East St. Louis, and in the city proper on Market Street. At the age of 3, Jean moved to Chicago, Illinois to a development known as Princeton Park Garden Homes, located on the far south side of Chicago. Jean believed that her father had done a good thing in selecting this neighborhood, because she grew up in a community made up of row homes that provided her family the kind of life as many single family home neighborhoods. She loved her front and back yard, fondly recalled her front “stoop” and back porch, and noted that there was lots of room to play with many neighborhood children, which made a community that was exceedingly safe and encouraging for young people who grew up during that time. Jean attended Gillespie Elementary School and liked to say that she grew up in a time where her teachers thought their commitment was to make sure when their pupils entered high school, which was predominantly white, the African-American students did not embarrass them. Thus, Jean’s studies were exceedingly rigorous and for that she was forever grateful. During her time in Princeton Park and at Gillespie, Jean met many of her lifelong friends, to whom she remained connected for the duration of her life. Jean attended Calumet High School and graduated in 1958. Jean’s parents sent her to Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri where her father had attended, along with other members of the family from his generation. Jean enjoyed her college experience: spending time in the Drama Department, pledging Delta Sigma Theta (though she did not become a member), traveling via train to and from “Jeff City,” and generally enjoying college life. It was there that she met her first husband, Joseph Leroy Hutchins. Into this marriage her oldest daughter, Michelle Denise Hutchins, was born. Michelle unfortunately preceded Jean in death in 2002. After her marriage ended, Jean returned home to Chicago – working part-time and eventually attending community college and the Chicago Teachers College (now known as Chicago State University) so that she could begin her career as an educator. She completed college in 1964, earning a Bachelor of Science in Education. She proudly reported that she was successful in passing her teacher’s exam on the first try and began her career as an assigned teacher. Jean worked at Wadsworth Elementary, Shoop School, and taught summers at Esmond Elementary School in her early years as a Chicago Public School teacher. She finished her career at Oliver H. Perry School, which was eventually renamed Harold Washington Elementary School. Jean spent 36 years in the public schools in Chicago, teaching all grades from 3rd – 8th, with 5th being her favorite grade and science as her favorite subject. She also served as a Union Steward for the Chicago Teachers Union. Jean made some very good friends during the course of her career, and many of them stayed in touch with her post-retirement. Throughout her life, Jean did her best to serve the community and make a little bit of a difference in her world. She worked with the Girl Scouts, being an assistant leader of the Brownies at Zion Lutheran Church. Jean went on to serve as the Director of Christian Education at Arnett Chapel AME, where she was a member of Sunday School, on the Steward’s Board, Missionary Society, and generally trying to work wherever she was needed throughout the church. Jean also worked closely with the local high school and at the schools that her daughters attended, where she was a member of the PTA, the Local School Council, and any booster group for parents to help support the efforts of young people. As a child, Jean was baptized into the African Methodist Episcopal faith, and upon her family’s relocation to Chicago, they attended Woodlawn AME and sometimes St. James AME Church. As a teenager, a new church came into the community, and the Teer family began to attend Resurrection Lutheran Church, later on becoming confirmed members as the years went on. Both Jean and her younger sister Joyce were married in the Lutheran Church. Jean, and her youngest sister Jennifer, often told the amusing story about how she met her husband and love of her life, Rudolphus Heywood Pryor, Jr. Jennifer actually brought him home, but said that she thought she was a little young for him, but that she had three older sisters and surely one of them would be willing to go out with him! Rudolph and Jean did end up liking each other, and their first date was to see a movie called “In The Heat of The Night” with Sidney Poitier. Rudolph and Jean dated for a while and married in 1973. From that marriage, Jean and Rudolph had 3 daughters: Andrea Dana, Brenda Diane, and Cassandra Dorthi. Jean wanted everyone to know that she and Rudy were proud of each of their beloved, capable, and intelligent daughters. Sadly, Rudolph preceded Jean in death in January 2004, after 30 years of marriage. Jean enjoyed many hobbies: puzzles, embroidery and sewing, cooking (but not baking, as she always thought it was too traumatic!), and voraciously reading everything from poetry to fiction and nonfiction, political essays, and biographies. Jean was also a bit of a political junkie, taking in every program and paper she could to be able to cogently discuss the state of the city, the state, the nation, and the world at large. Jean would like to close with this: “there are many other things I could use to discuss my life, but one thing I know is if you are reading this I am at peace, because I have gone home.” Jean Andrea Teer Pryor went on to her heavenly reward just after dawn on September 22, 2018 after a prolonged illness. She leaves to cherish her memory: daughters Andrea Dana Pryor (Corey Harden) Brenda Diane Pryor (Kevin Washington) and Cassandra Dorthi Smith (Mario Smith); grandchildren: Dalvin-Michael, Ethan, Erin, Mario Jr., Carys-Jeane, and Olivia-Cate; sister Jennifer Donna Teer; brothers James Edward (Kathy) Teer and John Roger Teer (Adrienne Locke); special cousins Susan Carlotta Ellis and Karyn Nash; in-laws Sadie May, Millard McClellan, Jerry Pryor, George Pryor, and James Buchanan; and a host of other relatives, friends, and treasured church family. Jean will also be missed by her closest friends: Sandra Bishop, Marilyn Pepper, Marcella Morrison, Janet Harris, Julia Coachman, Phyllis Wilson, Valerie Watson, and Connie Thomas.

Jean Teer Pryor

February 18, 1941 - September 22, 2018

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Jean Teer Pryor

February 18, 1941 - September 22, 2018

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