Jean Elizabeth Callison passed away on March 18, 2026, at her home in the Cox's Chapel Community, Mouth of Wilson, VA. A native of Gaffney, SC, she was the daughter of T.C. Callison Jr. and Helen Vassy Callison.  Jean was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, teacher, writer/diarist and musician. Teaching was her calling, music her talent and her passion. She played a half-dozen stringed instruments and had a lovely, moving singing voice that she shared with family and friends alike over many musical sessions in the Grayson County and Washington D.C. area.  For years, she was a faithful member of the Independence Courthouse Jam in Independence, VA.

Jean was a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, and a former faculty member at Glade Valley School (Sparta, NC) and Dean of Students for Chatham Hall (Chatham, Va). She retired from Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, VA, in 2017.  She also served for a time as Director of the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program in Alleghany County, NC, and was a board member of the annual Wayne Henderson Festival in Grayson County, VA.  Jean was a life-long Episcopalian and a congregant of Christ Church Episcopal in Sparta, NC.

Jean is survived by her two sons, Cmdr. Jeremy David (JD) Braun, USN, of Belle Chasse, LA (Aileen); and Devin Callison Braun (Rebecca) of Washington, DC; grandson Nico Braun; brother Cleve Callison (Jenny) of Greenwich, CT; sister Margaret Callison Pridgen (Sonny) of Greenville, SC, and 4 nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held May 9 at 11 A.M. at Christ Episcopal Church (2543 U.S. 21, Sparta, NC), with a reception to follow at Crouse Park (60 Cherry Street, Sparta, NC). The family welcomes contributions in her name to Jean's beloved Alleghany JAM to benefit local, aspiring traditional musicians ( alleghanyjam.com/donate/ ).