Joan B. Jeffers

Joan B. (Jackson) Jeffers, 90, of Stroudsburg, passed away peacefully Friday, September 19, 2025 surrounded by loved ones, who along with hospice, compassionately cared for Joan her last few months at home. She was the widow of Frank Eli Jeffers with whom she shared 49 years of marriage at the time of his death in 2007. Born on January 18, 1935 in Kearny, NJ, into a large Scottish clan recently emigrated from Glasgow. Joan was proud of her heritage and delighted in growing up surrounded by cousins, aunts, and uncles, many of whom still spoke with a rich Scottish brogue. Joan enjoyed vacation, holiday and weekend time with her extended family at the Jersey Shore and their vacation home at Lake Mohawk, NJ. Joan was a daughter of the late George Baxter Jackson and Euphemia (McPherson) Jackson. Joan excelled academically and graduated Pi Beta Kappa and Mortar Board with a degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to her academics at UPenn, Joan was a student leader of the university's Christian Association, a community that planted seeds of faith, social justice, hospitality, and activism, values that would shape her adult life. As a Christian Association leader, Joan spent her summers as a counselor at Camp Greenlane, a camp for impoverished inner city Philadelphia youth in need of fresh air and adventure. Joan was fortunate to mostly be a homemaker and stay-at-home mom while her children were growing up. She used her degree to work as an English teacher at Hackettstown Middle School, Newton High School and Sussex High School. In the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, Joan started a Fresh Air Fund Friendly Town in Hackettstown, NJ, bringing bus loads of children from New York City to "the country" for a 2 week vacation with host families. Joan served as a parent/teen advisor for Children and Youth and served on the Board of Monroe County Head Start. Joan was a charter member of the Warren County NJ AAUW and member of the Monroe County branch of the AAUW, and was a volunteer with Monroe County Meals on Wheels and PATH. For several years she and her husband owned and operated the Serendipity Motel in Mt. Bethel. Joan was a member, Elder and Deacon of First Presbyterian Church of Stroudsburg; where she was also active in a church Bible Study for more than 20 years, taught Sunday School, and served in the nursery. As Joan aged and her mobility became more limited, she delighted in welcoming newcomers to the church and creating a ministry of care through phone calls, texts, and notes. Joan had many interests throughout her life. She was an avid reader, loved to travel, was a Broadway and theater enthusiast and enjoyed doing complicated word puzzles, especially the New York Times or Washington Post crossword puzzles in ink. She was a thoughtful writer of prose and poetry. Joan took a special delight in her grandchildren - reading, playing games, traveling with them, and making memories at family reunions and gatherings. Joan was passionately interested in politics. She was a frequent Letters to the Editor contributor of the Pocono Record. Surviving are three children, Meredith Jeffers of Meriden, CT, Lincoln Jeffers and wife Bridget of Freeport, ME, and Melanie Frassinelli and husband Michael of East Stroudsburg; nine grandchildren, Araceli Jeffers, Jacqueline Jeffers, Tony Jeffers, Lupe Jeffers Smooke (Eric), Jackson Jeffers, Sierra Driscoll (Kevin) , Fiona Frassinelli, Nickolas Frassinelli (Gargee) and Felicia Frassinelli; a great granddaughter, Rose Driscoll; a sister, Shirley Adamson of Lapeer, MI ; and many nieces and nephews, cousins and dear friends. Joan's life will be celebrated at a service on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 11am at the First Presbyterian Church of Stroudsburg with the Rev. Beth Utley and Rev. Dr. Meredith Jeffers officiating. Private burial will take place off the coast of Maine so that her ashes might travel Over the Sea to Skye. Memorial remembrances may be made to the First Presbyterian of Stroudsburg; PATH, or Meals on Wheels. Cremation arrangements were entrusted to the William H. Clark Funeral Home, 1003 Main St., Stroudsburg.