Jean Hiles

1921 - 2015

Jean C. Hiles

1921-2015

Jean Clabaugh Hiles, age 93, died February 28, in Pensacola, Florida. Mrs. Hiles was a retired teacher and civic leader. She was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, but spent most of her childhood in Birmingham, graduating from the University of Alabama in 1941 where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Mortar Board and Phi Beta Kappa. She married Henry C. Hiles on October 23, 1941, at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and lived there until her husband returned from duty as a naval officer in the Pacific. She resided in Pensacola from1948 until her death. She taught History, first at A.V. Clubbs, Jr. High School, where she was named Exchange Club Jr. High Teacher of the Year, and later at Brentwood Middle School.

Mrs. Hiles was dedicated to supporting others, beginning with Red Cross work in Pensacola while her husband was stationed here in 1942. Prior to her teaching career, she worked with the Legal Aid Society assisting local attorneys in providing services to indigent clients. After her retirement, she volunteered at Sacred Heart Hospital. She is especially remembered for her work as a full-time volunteer, providing services to women at the Escambia County Jail, assisting the chaplain and counselors. She supervised the religious activities for women, began a library and crafts class, an exercise program, and arranged for reading tutors. Her efforts extended to helping the children and families of incarcerated women as well as supporting these women after their release. Mrs. Hiles was a member of the League of Women Voters, the Junior League and a founding member of the United Ministries Manna Food Bank.

She was named one of Pensacola's Outstanding Women by the Junior Women's Club, received the Pensacola Junior League's Joan Gonzalez Award for outstanding contributions to the community and the Liberty Bell awarded annually by the Escambia and Santa Rosa Bar Society. She was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, where she was a Sunday School teacher and a member of the Vestry. She helped establish the Service to Others' Committee there.

Her civic work also included countless hours devoted to improving local government through charter revision.

Ms. Hiles was preceded in death by her husband of almost 70 years, Henry Hiles, and by her daughter, Suzanne Hiles. She is survived by her daughter, Leslie Paoletti of Durham, Connecticut and New York City (John), her son Clay Hiles of New York City (Sarah Chasis), four grandchildren, Rebecca Paoletti (Charles Richardson), Sarah Paoletti (Praveen Kosuri), Rachel Hiles, and Jonathan Hiles, and two great grandchildren, Milo Richardson and Mira Kosuri.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church on Saturday, March 7, at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104, or the charity of your choice.

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