Jeannette Alexander Wedding

It is with much sadness we share, Jeannette Alexander Wedding left us to go home to Jesus, March 7, 2025. Surely Tom-Jean, Jimmy and Rusty met her at the gates with loving embraces and smiles.

She was born in Shreveport Louisiana July 28, 1941. The family lived with her maternal grandparents, the Shelton’s, until they moved to Amarillo, Texas in 1948. They lived an idyllic post World War II life on Locust Street. She attended Bivins Elementary school, where she developed friendships that would last a lifetime. Jeannette, Glenda Miller and Mary MacFarland were avid readers, rode bikes, and played games all through the neighborhood. Jeannette was active in the Rainbow Girls, babysat, and attended St. Andrews Episcopal Church.

After graduating from Amarillo High, Jeannette attended Amarillo College for two years before transferring to Texas Western College, to follow her neighbor friend and love, Joseph Philip Wedding, Jr. She studied English, education, and art.

After graduation they married and started a life of traveling the world with the United States Air Force. She was the nurturing mother to three children, Charlotte (Jim Pryor), Joseph Philip, III - Jeep (Brenda Hall), and James Alexander (Melinda Malouf). Grams, as she was known to her eight grandchildren, was over the moon proud of them all: Hunter (Haley), Ryan and Mads Pryor, Cameron (Brooke), Brett, and Taylor Wedding, Carson and Milo Wedding and two great-granddaughters, Charlotte Elizabeth and Rollins Jean (with two great-grandsons on the way)!

Jeannette was curious and loved to learn! She taught high school English before hearing her true calling to teach children with visual impairments. She worked in school systems in Virginia and Texas throughout the years, finally retiring after 40 years of service with 24 years with the Amarillo ISD. Along her journey she continued to study and earn more degrees culminating in a Doctorate in Education from Texas Tech University. She attended and earned other degrees from enough schools to create her own collegiate conference: Amarillo College, Texas Western, University of Texas - Austin, University of Northern Colorado, San Diego State, William and Mary, James Madison, West Texas A&M, San Antonio College, & Old Dominion University. She earned the respect, admiration and dedication of her students and peers as Dr. Jeannette Wedding, but “Dr. Shuga” to her momma, Tommie.

Jeannette was a woman of wit and many passions. She also saw the world in a magical colorful light and had the talent to share the light through painting, cross stitch, needlepoint, calligraphy and stained glass, a few creative expressions she mastered. She spoiled all who knew her with a myriad of artistic gifts and left enough art supplies to open a small studio.

Her love of books drew her to others who shared a passion for reading. The walls of her homes were always covered with books and her Kindle put thousands of titles at her fingertips. The friendships forged with the “Bottoms Up GirlS (BUGS)” book club were dear to her heart. She never left the house without a book and often reminded us to do the same! Jeannette was charmed by the Little Free Library Box movement and shared many of her own tomes in the local boxes.

In 1991, after 28 years away she returned to Amarillo, to be with her family and friends. She honored her parents by taking care of them during their twilight years. The lifelong friends of her brother and sisters-in-law, became her sisters and brother: Linda Alexander Howe, Anne Wedding and Patrick (Gloria) Wedding. She also leaves behind cousins, nieces, and nephews she treasured. Family became friends and friends became family. She appreciated each and every one: Gayle, Terri, Joe, Tony, Patsy, and Kathy Brown. She became very involved with St. Peters Episcopal Church. Mother Beverly, Todd, Peter, Debee, Sandra, Monika, and so many others, had a special place in her heart.

She was content to work tirelessly, often behind the scenes and equally happy to shine the light on others around her, to lift them up! For all this and more she will be fondly remembered: her kindness, humor, talent, love of a glamorous manicure, and Diet Coke. We are all better having shared in her world.

Thank you to the loving staff and residents of The Continental, The Heritage, The Ware, BSA ComPassion & Hospice for your care and compassion.

We will celebrate her life Friday, May 30, 2025, at 3:00 P.M., at St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Amarillo Texas.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to Friends of the Amarillo Public Library, 413 SE 4th Ave. Amarillo, Tx 79101 or The Don Harrington Discovery Center 1200 Streit Dr. Amarillo Tx. 79106.