Jean St. Martin

Jean Quillen St.Martin 79 died at Indian Path Hospital on Thursday, August 30, 2007 from complications of chronic kidney disease and heart failure.

She was born in Scott County, Virginia on October 20, 1927. She was the Daughter of Amna Flanary Quillen and Osta Audley Quillen of Slant, Virginia. Jean graduated from Dungannan High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia in 1948. She started college at the age of sixteen and majored in Chemistry and History. She became a research Chemist with Dupont in Wilmington, Delaware. On a vacation home, she met and then married Thomas R. St. Martin of Gate City, Virginia. They married on Christmas day at the home of Thomas? uncle and aunt, Dr. Edwin Meredith and Marie St. Martin Corns in 1948.

Jean St. Martin taught Science for five years at Shoemaker High School; then moved to Kingsport and taught 39 years at John Sevier Jr. High and later Middle School, Kingsport, Tennessee. She started the Washington, DC. field trips for the ninth and later eighth grades and was the tour director for 17 years. She aided in getting scholarships for indigent students to travel on the trips and was recognized for this work and awarded Outstanding Educator by the Optimist Club of Riverview in Kingsport. The Kingsport City Schools Board honored her with Outstanding Educator. She was the director for 39 years of the John Sevier Science Fairs and judged and advised on other school systems? Science Fairs.

She was a member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church. As a church member for many years, she was the coordinator and a teacher of the Philosophy class and a former chairman of the Wednesday Niters Supper meetings. She has written articles for the Scott County Virginia Star, the Scott County History book and the History of the Kingsport City Schools System. She was the coordinator of accreditation of Southern Association of Schools and Colleges certification for John Sevier Middle School. Her graduate work was at East Tennessee State University. She was a Master Level three educator, the highest level for the State of Tennessee. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the oldest teaching sorority in the United States, Daughters of the American Revolution, American Science Teachers Association, delegate to the Tennessee Education Association and Kingsport Retired Teachers Association.

Her husband, Thomas, preceded Jean St. Martin in death.

She is survived by her daughters, Jeanne St. Martin Cline of New Orleans, Louisiana, Jo-Marie St. Martin Green of Washington, DC; and one son, Thomas R. St. Martin, Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia; three grandchildren, Richard St. Martin Cline, Jennifer and John St. Martin; and one brother O.A. Quillen of Slant, Virginia. She is also survived by her nieces, Ann Woodson St. Martin Conklin, Teresa Quillen Dishner; nephews Roderick St. Martin, Tucker St. Martin Coleman, Judge Samuel Walton Coleman III, O.A. Quillen III, Edward St. Martin III; and her great aunt, Ruby Quillen Montgomery.

The family would like to especially thank her long time friend, Agnes Alley, for her tireless help in Mother?s long illness. The Memorial Service will be conducted at First Broad Street United Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 3rd, 2007 with Rev. A. Clark Jenkins and The Rev. Jack P. Weikel officiating.

Following the service, the family will receive family and friends in the Social Hall of the church. Refreshments will be provided.

Please make memorial contributions to her Church at P. O. Box 1346, Kingsport, TN 37662.