Jewel Celestine Churn was born in Camden, N.J., on a beautiful night in June . The daughter of Dr. Charles Henry Churn Sr. and Violet Minoda Grayson Churn, Jewel had two sisters, Violet Minoda and LaVerne Portia, and three brothers, Charles Henry Jr., Serenus Theophilus and Gabriel Philemon. Jewel was the true “gem” of the family and the youngest girl.
She was nurtured by her father and mother and through their spiritual guidance and teachings she accepted the Lord and was baptized at the Union Temple Baptist Church. At the church she worked with the youth and music ministries. She labored in many other capacities as well until her health failed.
Jewel attended elementary school in Philadelphia, Penn., and continued her public education in Baltimore. God blessed Jewel with great musical talents. She was endowed with the skill to motivate her students to love the arts. After graduating from Frederick Douglass High School and Morgan State University, where she majored in music, Jewel was appointed to teach at her alma mater. She continued teaching for 38 years at Frederick Douglas a teacher and department chairman of fine arts. Although Jewel lost her vision in 1995, she continued to teach with the assistance of her guide dog, Bahama. When Bahama died in 2003, Jewel persevered and continued her arduous schedule.
Ms. Churn was a music educator, music adjudicator, coordinator of the Choral Directors Association and administration of the Saturday Program for the Arts. She was the recipient of a Peabody Preparatory Scholarship and several outstanding music citations and awards.
Jewel was also a member of the MSTA, NEA, MENC and NASPAAM, Delta Kappa Gamma Honorary Educators Sorority and a presenter at state and national conventions. She received her bachelor’s in music from Morgan State and her master’s from Towson University.
She leaves to mourn her siblings Violet, La Verne and Serenus; nephews the Rev. H. Ray Williams, the Rev. Serenus T. Churn Jr., Keith Churn, Dr. Mark S. Churn, the Rev. Starling T. Churn, the Rev. Gabriel P. Churn Jr., Gabriel P. Churn III and Zane Tristan Kreipl; nieces Lisa Churn, Catrina Tucker, Dolores M. Churn, Doriel M. Churn, JuVia Kreipl, Serena Churn, Kortnee, Kirston and Kimberly Williams and sister-in-laws Shirley, Ramona and Dolores R. Churn. She also leaves behind Dr. Thomas H. DeLaine Sr. and his family and a host of other relatives, friends, colleagues and students.