Jean Ward Phelps
GREENSBORO - July 22, 1938 - December 4, 2023 Jean Ward Phelps, aged 85, loving wife of 17 years to Edward Chapman Phelps (Ed), passed away in Greensboro, NC of complications from Lung Cancer and COPD. Services will be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 2105 West Market Street, Greensboro at 11am on Friday, December 15, 2023. Memorial Service and Interment will be at St. Uriel’s Episcopal Church, Sea Girt, New Jersey at 11am on Saturday, January 20, 2024.
Born Jean Neilson Galloway on July 22, 1938 in New York City, Jean grew up in Atlanta, Albany, New York City and Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. Jean graduated from Mountain Lakes High School (Mountain Lakes, NJ), Greenbrier Junior College (Lewisburg, WV), and Katharine Gibbs School (Montclair, NJ). Jean was married to W. Daniel (Dan) Ward III from 1959 to 1983. After marrying and prior to the birth of her daughters, Jean worked as a secretary in the Admissions Office at Montclair State University. In 1979, Jean returned to her career as a Legal Secretary and Paralegal working for law firms in Connecticut, South Carolina and New Jersey.
Jean and Dan lived all over the United States (New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, California, back to Connecticut and then her beloved Sea Girt, New Jersey). Seven moves in 14 years taught Jean how to be flexible and make friends easily. Jean reconnected with Ed Phelps at a Mountain Lakes High School Reunion in 2004 and after dating as teenagers, it was love at second sight. They married on June 17, 2006 and she relocated to Greensboro, even though it wasn’t near a beach...that’s love! She was an active member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church serving as a greeter and knitting items for the church bazaar. Jean was one of a kind and she brought a warm laugh and encouraging smile to everyone she met. Friends and family describe Jean as a spitfire, a firecracker, and honest - she told it as it was - even if you didn’t want to hear it. Full of life and adventurous, she loved to eat out and travel. She cherished all of her friends and family, and never forgot a name or a date. Jean overcame many adversities in her life, but was resilient; a fighter and a survivor to the end. Jean had a positive attitude, a zest for life and she knew just how lucky she was to celebrate every day of her 85 years.
Jean is survived by two beloved daughters: Wendy Elizabeth Ward, Cynthia Ward Morea (husband Edward Morea); two bonus daughters through her marriage to husband Ed Phelps: Michelle Phelps Cottrill (husband Edward Cottrill), Gale Phelps Long (husband James Long); six cherished grandchildren: Elizabeth Morea, Daniel Morea (fiancée Melanie Hulle), Amber Long, Jake Cottrill (wife Alexandra Reveille), Jessica Cottrill Girardin (husband Richard Girardin), Jen Cottrill,; and three great-grandchildren: Clare Girardin, Avila Girardin, and Joseph Girardin. She will be missed by family members and friends all over the country as well as a legion of anonymous friends.
Jean was predeceased by her parents Archibald Neilson Galloway Sr. and Lois DeGroff Galloway, her younger twin brothers Archibald Neilson Galloway Jr. and Alexander Thompson Galloway II, and nephew Alexander Thompson Galloway III. She is survived by sisters-in-law Sue Galloway, Rebecca Galloway Maypole (husband John), loving nieces and nephews Kimberly Bolling (husband Mark), Andrew Galloway (wife Jordana), Archibald Galloway III, Heather Stewart, Meghan Richards (husband Robert), Gordon Galloway (wife Stephanie) and their families.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Jean Phelps to be sent to: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 2105 West Market St., Greensboro NC or the Sea Girt Lighthouse, PO Box 83, Sea Girt NJ 08750.