Jean Frances Frye

Jean Frances Jackson Meachem Frye was born January 26, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois, the second child of Jessie Caldwell Wilson and Frank Rufus Jackson. Jean spent her first four years in Chicago. The family moved to South Haven, Michigan in 1939. She attended Covert Consolidated School for eight years and then transferred to South Haven High School where she played the flute in the band and orchestra for four years. Jean went on to attend Michigan State Normal College, now Eastern Michigan, and continued playing in both the band and the orchestra. She majored in Library Science. She married Robert Allen Meachem at the end of her sophomore year. They eventually settled in Charlotte in 1956 where they had two daughters: Sherry and Robbie. Jean began working at UNC Charlotte in 1968. While employed at UNCC, she finished her bachelor’s degree and completed a master’s degree in English. She worked in the library for thirteen years and moved into Admissions in 1981 where she spent fifteen years and retired as Associate Director. Jean married David Edwin Frye in 1982. Both being Michiganders, they spent many summer vacations camping on Lake Superior, a place they both loved. In retirement, Jean pursued researching her family genealogy and served as president of the African American Genealogy Interest Group for four years. She also served on the Board of Historic Rosedale Plantation, volunteered in the Carolina Room of the public library and at Allegra Westbrook Regional Public Library. She loved her flower garden where she was closest to her own spirituality. Jean always called herself an ecumenical person having belonged to a number of denominations. She finally called Memorial United Presbyterian Church home where she served on the Trustee Board for a number of years. Her first love was the music, singing in the choir and playing her flute, as she put it “not well but with heart”. Jean leaves to celebrate her life and their own: daughters Sherry Meachem Alexander, Roberta (Robbie) Meachem Mahatha; grandchildren Kimberly Alexander, Nicholas Alexander (Abony), Jessica Mahatha, Jeremy Mahatha (Siriyah), Jaclyn Mahatha Haskell (Clint); and great-grandchildren Sophia Mckinney, Gabrielle Bratcher, Rowan Haskell, Phoebe Haskell, Saysah Bratcher, Maxwell Haskell, Murphy Haskell and Adrian Alexander. She also had family-in-love Dave Frye (Charlene) and Susan Frye Abernathy (Richard), Charles Frye (Chelsea), Zach Frye (Alyson), Josh Frye (Francesca), Chevy Frye, Charlie Frye, Rorie Frye, Elloitt Frye, Charlotte Frye and Colette Frye. She also had bonus family Melvin Threat, Darryl Evans, and Deron Massey and many others.

Jean Frances Frye

January 26, 1935 - September 9, 2026