Jann Terral Ferris

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 26, 2009

A native of New Orleans and longtime resident of Vicksburg, Jann Terral Ferris died in Covington, La., on June 23, 2009, surrounded by family after a valiant struggle against pancreatic cancer. She was born in Ruston, La., on June 29, 1949, to Dr. William Terral and Lylen (Mitty) Terral.

She is survived by her parents and her daughter, Lylen Ferris and husband Michael Swiericzuk; grandchildren, Nathan and Ruby Swiericzuk of Portland, Ore.; son, Jason Ferris and wife Rebecca of New Orleans; brothers, Dr. Buddy Terral and Mark (Scott) Terral, both of Covington, Brett Terral and wife Lizette of New Orleans, Dr. Gregg Terral and wife Lori of Fairhope, Ala.; and many adoring nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Grey Flowers Ferris; and daughter, Jessica Shelby Ferris.

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A graduate of Isidore Newman School, Jann met Grey while she was a freshman at Sophie Newcomb College and they soon became, as one friend called them, “the golden couple on the Tulane campus.” They were married in June 1970. One year later, she graduated with a BFA in studio art. She later received two master’s degrees from Mississippi College, in art education and administration.

Passionate about children and education, Jann spent the major part of her working life as an arts educator, advocate and creative artist, leaving a remarkable legacy in arts education in Mississippi. She served as the president of the Mississippi Craftsman Guild and spearheaded an “arts in the curriculum” program at Beechwood Elementary School in Vicksburg in 1991. This effort won the school a Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1998, and the program became a national model. Still thriving today, the Whole Schools Initiative places Mississippi at the very top of its field in the area of arts education. Jann went on to work for the Mississippi Arts Commission and, in recent years, received recognition for her jewelry designs, as well as for her fanciful and exuberant drawings. These drawings were featured in a one-woman show called “Freefall into Grace” at the Mississippi Museum of Art in 2007.

Jann had a way about her. With her beauty and intelligence, she never failed to make an indelible impression but, for family and friends, that was only the beginning. She was a person of wit and playfulness, of New Orleans flair; the person children wanted to be with most of all. She was someone always willing to say yes to the world. Her laughter had bells in it. She had the gift of empathy and had a magical touch as a teacher and an artist. Her deep faith saw her through the most grievous losses and was able to transmute those losses into hard-won spiritual wisdom.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27, 2009, at the First Presbyterian Church on Cherry Street in Vicksburg with the Rev. Tim Brown officiating. Visitation will be from 9 until 11 a.m. in Ward Hall at the church. Private interment will follow.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Buddy Terral, Mark (Scott) Terral, Brett Terral, Dr. Gregg Terral, Michael Swiericzuk and Jason Ferris.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jann’s memory may be made to the Shelby Ferris Art Therapy Endowment, payable to UMMC Office of Development, 2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216. Please write “In Memory of Jann Ferris” on the memo line of the check.