Jean Brokaw Abell

Jean Brokaw Abell, née Jean Louise Brokaw, was born on August 16, 1926 in Gary, Indiana. On April 5, 2020 she left this world to go to her Heavenly Father. As was her desire, she died peacefully in her room at Penney Retirement Community (Penney Farms, Florida), her beloved home of over 27 years. She was 93.

A Baptist minister’s daughter, Jean was raised in upstate New York, the only child of Abram and Adah Brokaw (she always wanted a younger brother). Her parents welcomed many missionaries into their church and home, and at a young age, she felt God’s call to overseas missionary service.

After graduating from Palmyra High School, in New York, she attended Denison University (Ohio) where she met Norman Burt Abell. They married on her birthday in 1947 in New York and soon thereafter he entered the University of Rochester Medical School. During those years she completed a Master’s degree in education and began teaching. Second grade was her favorite—she delighted in the growing knowledge and curiosity of seven-year-olds. During his medical residency, Norm and Jean had two children, Bob and Grace. In 1953 they were commissioned as missionaries with the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. In 1955, they sailed to Belgium for training in tropical medicine. The following spring, they set sail for the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

Norm and Jean raised their family in the Congo, adding two more children (Marjorie and Jim) by 1963. Besides caring for their children and home, Jean taught many ages and subjects—in several languages. They loved their adopted country and devoted themselves to ministering to (and with) the Congolese people.

The couple retired in 1990, returning to their house in Green Cove Springs, Florida. Before moving permanently to nearby Penney Farms Retirement Community (in 1992), Norm and Jean spent a school year as missionaries-in-residence at Alderson Broaddus University in Philippi, West Virginia.

Once at Penney Farms, Norm and Jean hit the ground running, immersing themselves in various aspects of community life. For many years, they were an integral part of the First Baptist Church of Oakland, in inner-city Jacksonville. Jean also tutored local elementary school children and adults. Her wide-ranging interests included acting (especially Shakespeare), leading exercise classes for Alzheimer’s patients, and encouraging prayer. Jean loved to write. Her dream of publishing her memoirs finally came true in late December 2019. How she enjoyed signing copies of Go Boat Congo, which she dedicated to her late husband Norm (he passed away in 2012).

Jean loved giving and receiving hugs, praying for people and making them laugh. A masterful storyteller, she was widely known for her love of words, her quick wit, and her amazing memory. Jean knew she belonged to God and that He had never given up on her.

Jean loved to ask questions to get to know people. She made people feel loved. She used her keen and thoughtful mind to help others wrestle with tough issues.

Always sacrificial, she put others first. She could often be found volunteering. In fact, there was not much Jean could not (or would not) do to help someone else. She was a champion for the poor and the oppressed, and in her nineties she joined a peace advocacy group.

Jean was fiercely independent (and quite a character too!). Her amazing flexibility readied her for the many adventures (and hardships) she would experience over her many years. Full of energy and zest for life, she was deeply devoted to God. Time and again, Jean’s life and words pointed others to Jesus. What a legacy!

Jean was preceded in death by both of her parents, Abram Covert Brokaw and Adah Fay Holloway Brokaw; her husband, Norman Burt Abell; and her great granddaughter, Seren Korra McManus. She is survived by a large family who will miss her dearly. Among them are her children: Robert Abell (Anna), Grace Boivin (Michael), Marjorie Clark (Rory), and James Abell (Candace); her 14 grandchildren: Kiesi (Dan), Theresa (Kip), Timothy (Heather), Serenity (Marc), Monique, Victor, Daniel (Yana), Josiah (Alison), Matthew, Natalie (Michael), Miriam (Richard), Angela, Grace (Lynn-Steven), and Abigail; and her 11 great grandchildren: Micah, River, Kayla, Ryan, Skylar, Vaylen, Elliot, Amutul, Joy, Rhodes, and Landon.

Because of the global pandemic, we plan to celebrate her life at a time when we can gather with family and friends at Penney Retirement Community. In lieu of flowers Jean requested that gifts be given to the Haiti Hope Fund or International Ministries (formerly known as the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society).

Haiti Hope Fund, 428 Walnut Street, Green Cove Springs, Florida 32043, (904) 612-4818; facebook.com/Haiti-Hope-Fund-113530621800/

International Ministries, 1003 W. 9^th Ave., Ste. A, King of Prussia, PA 19406; internationalministries.org; giving page: portal.internationalministries.org/give; Donor Services: 610-768-2323