Jadalyn Peden Maynord, 80, was born December 25, 1945, in Lubbock, Texas, and died September 4, 2026. A longtime resident of Grand Prairie, Texas, she was, in every season of life, a beloved presence—steady in faith, gentle in spirit, and quietly inspirational to those who had the gift of knowing her.
Raised in Grand Prairie, Jadalyn graduated from Grand Prairie High School in 1964. Her devotion to learning and to children shaped her path early and remained a guiding thread throughout her life. She went on to graduate from North Texas State University in 1968 with her bachelor’s degree, and again in 1971 with her master’s degree in elementary education and teaching—preparing not only for a career, but for a calling.
Jadalyn served as an elementary school teacher—most often with 4th and 5th graders—until her retirement from Zavala Elementary in Grand Prairie in the early 2000s. Over the years she also taught at Milam Elementary in Grand Prairie in the 1970s and at Nitsch Elementary in Houston in the early 1980s. In each classroom, her kind-hearted nature and faithful dedication were felt in ways that outlasted any school year, leaving behind the sort of legacy that cannot be measured by dates alone.
In 1971, she married James Richard Maynord Jr., and together they welcomed two children, Christie and Wade. Jadalyn’s devotion was most evident in the everyday ways she loved—patiently, consistently, and with a warmth that made home feel like refuge. She was a wonderful and loving mother, wife, and Christian woman, and her life reflected the quiet strength of a heart anchored in faith.
Music was one of Jadalyn’s most enduring languages of care. She loved singing and playing the piano, especially hymns. At Indian Hills Baptist Church, she often served as a substitute on piano and organ, and she sang for many years in the choir—offering what she had with humility, and letting worship become both gift and testimony.
Jadalyn was preceded in death by her father, Jada Wade Peden; her mother, Violet E. Peden; and her husband, James Richard Maynord Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Christie Fowler (Andrew); her son, Wade Maynord; her grandsons, Ethan Maynord (Sheydi), Aaron Maynord, and Michael Fowler; her granddaughters, Jessica Fowler, Teagan Burnett, and Tarin Burnett.
Those who loved Jadalyn will remember not only what she did, but who she was—faithful, devoted, and deeply kind-hearted. In the words of her family, she was “the closest to perfect as anyone could be,” and her daughter aspires to be more like her. That is a rare legacy: to live in such a way that love becomes a compass for those who remain.
Funeral services will be held at Indian Hills Baptist Church, 814 Tamara Ln, Grand Prairie, TX 75051, on September 11, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Committal will follow at Moore Memorial Gardens, 1219 North Davis Drive, Arlington, TX 76012.
