Jacqueline Ormond Obituary

I will miss Mrs. Ormond for her smile and quick wit. She was one of my favorite teachers at North Charleston High. I looked forward to her Business Law class and learning how to play chess. I will miss her dearly. RIH

Jackie and I taught together at NCHS. She was always helpful and greeted me with a smile. She was a lovely person and a loving educator. She will be missed.

In 1976 I was a poor 13 year old girl who transitioned bright-eyed, yet blindly from Memminger Elementary School into 8th grade at Charleston High School with no vision for my life beyond the hood. You shared yours with me until I developed my own. Jackie Ritter-Ormond, you saw me before I could really see myself. You saw a poor little rich girl. Poor in material wealth. Yet, rich with enthusiasm, love for teaching and learning, and a heart for all people. The heart of a teacher is one thing we cant train teachers to develop. You were THAT TEACHER. The one that set the standard for what great teachers are made of. We had many to choose from just as dedicated as you, but you chose me (and others) to watch after. You were that helicopter, Mama Bear, quiet storm of a teacher.

It was you who ensured that I moved from remedial classes in 8th grade to workforce ready and college prep classes. It was you and Mrs. Broughton who pushed me into Honors English by my Senior year. It was you who ensured that I was workforce ready and graduated in the top 10 of my class. It was you and Mrs. Broughton who made sure there was scholarship money on the table with my name on it. It was you who sent me to the college recruitment event hosted by Mrs. Kenny in the library. It was you and Mrs. Phyall-Williams who made me a lead cheerleader for life. You wanted me to get ready for greatness. You hovered and worked behind the scenes on my behalf.

You made my potential visible and positioned me, pushed me, prepared me, praised me, and protected me. You made me a believer in the power of knowledge and the promises of education. You exposed me to new levels of Finer Womanhood and the finer things of life. You saw that I had what I needed to cope and compete. Im paying it forward and hope you are pleased with my progress.

Your influence is immeasurable and your presence in my life is forever. Your legacy of impacting the lives of others will live through me and My Baby Jackie as you called her. Thanks for seeing the leader in me and literally making me a cheerleader for the life of others. You gave me your college ring to wear for my highschool senior pictures, because Mom couldnt afford to buy one. You made sure I had a beautiful lavender designer dress for prom and bought my first pair of Bob Ellis shoes. They were open toed lavender and purple sling backs that led to my shoe fettish. You found joy in buying my shoes and clothing for special occassions, taking me to the movies, the dentist, and out to eat; especially after basketball games. Very few beyond my family ever knew how much you did for me, because you were a humble spirit that didnt need public praise. You pinned me as I joined AKA sorority, and became Godmother to my 3rd born Jaclyn; yet, still helped me mother all of my girls from a distance across 3 states.

Ritter, you were more than my teacher, my coach, my fairy godmother, my friend, my mentor, and my soror. You were my angel unaware. I will love you forever, like you for always, as long as Im living, my angel youll be. #TheRealFairyGodmother