Jeanette Fulton Veile was born on November 13, 1945, in Winston-Salem, NC. She grew up in the shadow of Pilot Mountain. She graduated from King High School and earned a bachelor of science in Elementary Education from East Carolina University. Jeanette moved to Nashville to attend Scarritt College, where she trained to become a missionary overseas. She became very politically active during this time, marching alongside John Lewis during the Civil Rights Movement.
Jeanette met the Love of Her Life, Bob, and the two of them began an epic love story for the ages. On October 28, 1972, Jeanette and Bob stood up in the Quaker Meeting and said their wedding vows to each other. Even after 53 years of marriage, Bob still calls Jeanette his “Darling Bride.” Their love for each other is an example to many.
Jeanette and Bob stayed in the Nashville area and had two children, Jocelyn and David. Jeanette was a stay-at-home mom for the first decade of her children’s lives, and then was called to return to the classroom as a public school teacher. She worked for Metro Nashville Public Schools for 30 years teaching elementary students. She had a passion for teaching and caring for her students.
In the 1990’s, Jeanette became one of the first teachers of English Language Learners in MNPS. For many immigrant and refugee families, she was their first teacher in the United States. She loved and advocated for her students and their families. When she learned that some of her students were experiencing food insecurity, she found a way to make sure that children received food over the summer and during school breaks. For a decade, the “Summer Lunch Club” provided meals every weekday of the summer, along with needed items for the families. During the holidays, she gathered gifts for the children and arranged for each child to have their picture taken with Santa. To this day, many children in the South Nashville area call Bob and Jeanette “Santa and Mrs. Claus.”
Alongside her teaching career, Jeanette served as the Director of Christian Education at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church and at St. Matthias Episcopal Church. Through the years, she led dozens of Vacation Bible Schools, Mission Trips, and other events for children and families. Most recently, she and Bob have become a part of the community at St. Mary of Bethany Parish. They were both ordained as deacons in The Order of Berrigan and Day in January of this year.
Jeanette has been reunited in heaven with her mother, Dorothy Stone Fulton, her father, Henry Watt Fulton, and her dear grandma Hallie Fulton. She is survived by her “Darling Groom” Bob Veile, children Jocelyn (Glen) Taylor and David (Aubree) Veile, and seven grandchildren: Drew Taylor, Jonathan Taylor, Mia Taylor, David Taylor, Adria (Colby) Roberts, Emmy Veile, and Houston Veile. She will be deeply missed.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of these causes, which were dear to Jeanette’s heart:
· The Order of Berrigan and Day https://stmarysnashville.onlinegiving.org / (Choose Order of Berrigan and Day from the drop-down menu) All funds go directly to works of mercy.
· Alive Hospice Donate | Alive Hospice | Donations for Hospice Care
Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Danny Bryant on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (visitation 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.) at St. Mary of Bethany Parish, 900 Glendale Lane, Nashville, TN 37204. Interment Christ Church Memorial Gardens. Family and friends will serve as Pallbearers.
Visitation on Friday, May 8, 2026, will be at Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, 5852 Nolensville Road from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
For more obituaries visit our obituaries page.
This obituary was published by Woodbine Funeral Home – Hickory Chapel.
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