Jean was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania but spent most of her childhood and adult life in Baltimore, Maryland. For twenty-seven years she worked at Johns Hopkins Hospital in various positions, but for a number of years served as Assistant to the President and later as Coordinator for Patient Education and Support Services for transplant patients. After the death of her husband in 1999, she and her youngest daughter, Amanda, moved to Dillsburg, Pennsylvania to be near her parents.

In 2000, Jean served as Administrative Assistant to the General Secretary of the Brethren in Christ denomination. During this time, she felt God’s call to ministry and began attending seminary at Myerstown Evangelical School of Theology working toward a Masters of Divinity degree. She received her MDiv in 2012. In August 2004, Jean joined the Dillsburg Brethren in Christ ministry staff as Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Administration. She retired in August 2014.

Jean is the mother of four children—Cheryl, Rick, Jamey, and Amanda—and grandmother to six—Ellie, Jordan, Dylan, Bradley, Isabella, and Charlotte. Jean is serving in a variety of capacities to ensure that every child has a home.