Jean Pearson Chatham

Jean Pearson Chatham passed away peacefully at home on August 1, 2026. She was born in Cleburne, TX to Noel Pinkney Irwin and Estelle Daniel Irwin on September 17, 1930. Jean was an only child and raised during the Depression.

She attended Cleburne High School where she played a saxophone in a swing band. After graduating from high school, she attended Baylor University in Waco, TX, majoring in Home Economics Education. It was there that she met John Henry Pearson, whom she married right before her senior year.

Jean taught Home Economics at Robert E. Lee High School for 27 years. She was the Department Chair for numerous years and a Future Homemakers of America Advisor, for both area and state officers. Jean and John had three children: Paul, Diann and Dawn. During the years that the children were growing up, Jean was a full time mother and full time teacher, at a time when most women stayed at home or worked, but very few did both. She was an active den mother for the Boy Scouts of America during Paul’s younger years, and throughout her life she was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Women’s Missionary Union, Home Economics in the Home and Community, and long time member of First Baptist Church of San Antonio.

Jean was an avid reader, doing so up until the time of her death.

She also enjoyed playing the domino games Mexican Train and 84, doing crossword puzzles, bird watching, and watching football, whether it was her high school team where she taught, college teams or professional teams. She enjoyed sewing, having made quilts for all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also greatly enjoyed the family genealogy and recorded the family history through numerous scrapbooks.

John preceded Jean in death, and in later years, she married Roy Jackson Chatham. He also preceded Jean in death. Jean leaves behind son Paul David Pearson, wife Elvie Pearson, and grandson John Paul Pearson; daughter Diann Pearson Reina, husband Roy Reina, and grandchildren Roy Anthony Reina, Ryan Jacob Reina, wife Krystal Reina, and Roman Daniel Reina, wife Renea Brown; and daughter Dawn Pearson Wales Knighten, husband Cliff Knighten, and grandsons Jonathan Forrest Wales, fiancé Deatrice Lewellyan, and Jacob Pearson Wales. She also leaves behind great grandchildren, Julie Reina, Ryan Reina, Amaras Reina, Avila Reina, and Archie Reina.

Jean was generous, giving to numerous charities. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your favorite charity or to the First Baptist Church TV Ministry Fund.

A Funeral Service will take place on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 11:00 am, at First Baptist Church, 515 McCullough Avenue, San Antonio, Texas.

Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, 1701 Austin Hwy, San Antonio, Texas.