Jean Juchatz

Jean Jacquelyn Juchatz, of Winston-Salem, NC, passed away peacefully in her sleep Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at the age of 88. She will be greatly missed but her impact on the world will not be forgotten.

'Jackie' was born November 23, 1934, in Winston-Salem, NC, the only child of Herbert and Maye Aldridge, who both worked at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Jackie grew up in Winston-Salem, NC, and a few of the roads in town were cut by her family. The three built a log home at 1313 Oak Grove Road with the lumber timbered off the land. Jackie graduated from Reynolds High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At UNC, she was elected Secretary of the Student Body and Miss Outstanding Alumna, was a member of the Order of the Valkyries (women’s highest academic honor), the Order of the Old Well, the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, the Women’s Honor Council, the Student Legislature, and was named as a Yackety Yack Beauty (the school yearbook).

After graduating from UNC in 1957, Jackie married Bob Young, and taught English at Durham High where they soon celebrated the first of four children, Sherri. The family lived in Scotland for one year, where Bob studied divinity and daughter Terri was born. After returning to North Carolina, the family lived in the western part of the state where they welcomed sons Robert and Andrew. Jackie served as a pastor’s wife to several churches in the Western Conference of the United Methodist Church. In 1970, the ministry brought the family to Durham, where Jackie was active in the Duke Chapel Choir, volunteered at the Botanical Gardens and was a coach/driver/teacher/mom to her kids and their friends. Rarely was her house empty of kids laughing, eating, and playing. Although Mom was married to the Duke University Chaplain, she enjoyed rooting for the Tar Heels — especially when they were playing Duke.

In 1988, she married Warren Juchatz and the happy couple traveled the world together, with residences in Bermuda Run, NC, and Shelter Island, New York. They rode elephants in Africa, saw the Pyramids in Egypt, toured the Great Wall in China, and had long visits to Israel, Mexico, and Alaska. Along the way they hit every yard sale they could find.

Mom’s happy place was her beloved High Rock Lake cottage, which she and her parents built using the lumber from the land and filled with the love and laughter of five generations of Aldridge’s, Simpson’s, and Young’s. You cannot count how many folks learned to swim, ski, fish, and boat there. The paddle board wave wars were especially legendary. Jackie spent many of her last years happily sitting on her screened in porch at High Rock, a book in her lap and her feisty dog, Jake, at her side. A typical day was spent watching the boats go by, chatting with fishermen as they cast their lines and hosting loved ones for some BBQ served with her charming wit. A day on that magical porch fulfilled her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Maye Aldridge; her daughter, Terri and husband, Joe; and their son, Nicholas.

She is survived by her daughter, Sherri Myers and her husband, Dean; two sons, Robert Young, and his wife, Julie, and Andrew Young and his wife, Cheri; beloved grandchildren, Dustin Myers, and his wife, Stephanie, Chris, Tyler, Brooke, Brody, Gracie, Cooper, Andy Thompson, and his wife Bekah, Bobby; and her great grandchildren, Sidney, Maverick, Kashton, and Kearce.

The world is a better place because she was here.

Services will be held at Macedonia Moravian Church on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 2 p.m. with Rev. Zach Dease officiating.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory to Macedonia Moravian Church would be appreciated.

Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel is serving the family of Mrs. Juchatz.

Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com