Jean Gailliard

JEAN MARIE GAILLIARD, a native Detroiter, was born on October 14, 1951. She was born
to the late Eugene George and Nellie Marie (Rawls) Gailliard and was the second of
two siblings. She was raised as an active member of Bethel A.M.E. Church in
Detroit. She was a proud product of the Detroit Public Schools and graduated from
Cass Technical High in 1969. During high school, she was an avid musician, playing
the violin, viola, and piano. She played in the Community Orchestra, All-City
Orchestra, and the Cass Tech Symphony Orchestra. She attended Eastern Michigan
University and earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1974 and
later, her master’s in special education. In 1977, she was initiated into Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Ann Arbor Alumnae Chapter, and has been an active and
dedicated member in providing public service to the Ann Arbor community.

After graduation, she became an employee of the Detroit Public Schools as an
Elementary School Teacher. Her career as a school teacher spanned thirty-five
years, and all of those years were spent at Burt Elementary School. Her dedication
was evidenced by her driving from Ann Arbor to Detroit each school day. While she
taught she was involved in the Reading Recovery Program and also learned Japanese.
The children and the staff loved her! She retired in 2010.

Jeannie was a member of “The Lunch Bunch” – a group of retired teachers that she
joined - before she retired. Jeannie’s love for the group was never-ending. Just
two months ago, she was the hostess for the month. The “Bunch” friends loved her,
and she will be missed!

Jeannie loved to travel. Over the years, Jean was ever-adventurous! She travelled
to Africa, China, and throughout the United States – including Alaska and Hawaii. As
a member of a travel club, she travelled to many of the Caribbean Islands –
especially for her birthday.

She is survived by her brother, Reginald Hixon, and she leaves a host of Aunts,
Uncles, Cousins, Nieces and Nephews, and very close friends, who feel like they were
part of her immediate family.

During her prolonged illness, over the past four years, the family wishes to
recognize two special people who lent their support from the inception and duration
of her illness – Martha “Marty” Cothorn and Wayne Moore. Thank you!