Jessie Schell

Jessie Rosenberg Schell, 81 years old, died Saturday, September 23, 2023, in Asheville, NC. She was preceded in death by her mother Jane Baker Rosenberg, father Marvin Rosenberg, and brother Marvin Rosenberg, Jr. She is survived by her husband, David Schell, daughter Susanna Schell Cerrato, granddaughter Isabel Jane Cerrato, and her sister Anne Eich.

Always a daughter of the deep south, Jessie was born November 1, 1941, in Greenville, MS. She graduated from Greenville High School in 1959. She received her B. A. in 1963 and an M.F.A in writing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1971. She continued her graduate studies at Tulane University in New Orleans, where she met her husband of 55 years, David.

Jessie was an award-winning novelist, short story writer, and poet. Jessie published her acclaimed novel, Sudina, in 1965. She twice appeared in the O’Henry Prize Collection (1975 and 1978, respectively), her short stories and poems also appearing in literary publications including The Atlantic Monthly, The Greensboro Review, Carolina Quarterly, The Virginia Quarterly, Southern Poetry Review, and The Georgia Review. Jessie published twenty-four short stories in McCall’s magazine and was included in the Borestone Mountain Poetry Award collection.

Jessie also spent most of her life as a beloved educator and mentor, influencing and shaping the lives of all whom she taught. Jessie served as a valued instructor at UNC Greensboro, Xavier University in New Orleans, and UNC Chapel Hill, where David and Jessie each served as instructors for 6 years. After spending time living in Israel, David and Jessie moved to Thessaloniki, Greece, where they both taught at Anatolia College. Their daughter, Susanna, was born there in 1980. After moving back to the U.S. and settling in the Greater Boston Area, Jessie served as adjunct faculty at Northeastern University, Hanscom Airforce Base, as well as Brandeis University. In 1990, Jessie joined the faculty of Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, MA, as founder and head of their Creative Writing department and as a senior English teacher. She held this position for 13 years before retiring in 2003.

Jessie was a passionate, forthright advocate for her students, and someone known to positively encourage all with her listening ear and honest heart. She was a lover of music, wine, birds, gardening, travel, reading, and most importantly, people. She will be missed so much by her family, friends, and former students.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, November 4, at 11:00 a.m. at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Natick, MA.

The family asks in lieu of flowers that donations be made to The Jimmy Fund.

Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road is assisting the family.