Jan Jordan Hailey

Jan Jordan Hailey, former Greek instructor in the Abilene Christian University College of Biblical Studies, died Thursday, Nov. 2, in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. She was 69.

Funeral services are planned for Monday at 11 a.m. at University Church of Christ with Dr. Eddie Sharp presiding. The family will welcome guests at a visitation on Sunday from 3:30-5 p.m. at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut in Abilene.

Jan was born March 7, 1948, in Sweetwater, Texas, to John Randolph and Marilee Faver Jordan, the older of their two daughters. The family moved to Abilene and Jan attended public and private schools there, graduating from Abilene Christian High School in 1966 as valedictorian. While a student at ACHS she wrote the lyrics of the school song that is still used today.

She attended Abilene Christian College where she met Mel Hailey, a military brat hailing briefly from Tennessee, while the two were working in the bus ministry at Highland Church of Christ. They married March 29, 1969, a year before Jan graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She taught 8 ^th grade English in the Frenship school district for a year while Mel attended graduate school at Texas Tech, then stayed home while her children were young.

Beginning in 1988, Jan worked 11 years as a research assistant for Dr. Paul Faulkner, founding director of the Marriage and Family Institute at ACU. Faulkner honored Jan in the acknowledgements of his book Raising Faithful Kids in a Fast-Paced World. During those years she also completed a master’s degree in Greek in 1995 and began teaching part-time. She was honored in 1997-98 as the part-time teacher of the year in the College of Biblical Studies, and eventually joined the Bible faculty full-time to teach freshman and sophomore level Greek, Message of the Old Testament, and Christianity and Culture. She completed a Master of Divinity degree in 2003 and retired in 2008.

During and even after her years in the classroom Jan often received letters from ministers asking questions about New Testament Greek translations, and she always responded.

In 2004, her Elementary Greek Readings classes were featured in a New York Times article, “Tough Love,” about college courses so difficult “its reputation precedes it.” She said in the story, “I really don’t think they’re afraid of me. I think they’re afraid of the subject. I’m a grandmother. How tough can you be?”

For two years after retiring she worked at University Church of Christ as the church secretary. Jan was in demand as a speaker for women’s retreats, frequently speaking about prayer or on prison ministry, which became a passion. For several years she taught women in the Taylor County Jail, often continuing to work with women after their release. She was appointed by County Judge Lee Hamilton to the Taylor County Jail Planning Commission and honored for her service.

She also was on the founding board of Abilene Habitat for Humanity and in many other ways committed herself to “the least of these.” She volunteered for Noah Project and Meals on Wheels and was a member of the Emmaus Community frequently serving as chaplain on Women’s Walks to Emmaus. For most of her life she was a member of University Church of Christ serving on many committees.

Jan was “Nonnie” to her and Mel’s six grandchildren who adored her because she would get down on the floor to play at their level. She loved attending their recitals and plays and prayed for them by name every day.

She also loved adventure, especially hiking. She hiked across England, through Ireland and much of the Oregon coast.

Jan is survived by her husband, Dr. Mel Hailey, and by her two children and their families: Jennifer and Joel Nichols, and their children Benjamin and Natalie Nichols of Eden Prairie, Minnesota; and Robert and Jill Abbott Hailey and their children Joseph Zrinyi, and Ryder, Caitlin and Caroline Hailey of Dallas. She is also survived by her sister Vicki Ruth Shepard of Plano.

Those wishing to honor Jan’s life may make a memorial gift to Christian Homes and Family Services, 1202 Estates Drive, Abilene, Texas, 79602, or to Abilene Habitat for Humanity, 101 Fulwiler Road, Abilene, Texas 79603. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.