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Several hundred colleagues and friends attended retirement celebrations honoring Peter Jernberg held April 9 and 10 in the Gallery of the Performing Arts Center. The April 9 event was a gathering for faculty and staff. Students presented a special choral presentation of “Unforgettable” and “It Is Well with My Soul,” favorite selections of Mr. Jernberg. The April 10 event for members of the community was attended by many friends from the Metro Jackson area as well the Delta, where Mr. Jernberg had served for 21 years at Indianola Academy. The JA Jazz Band presented music in the plaza outside the PAC.
Collections of Lower School student art designed just for the occasion decorated the Gallery. In the artwork, students expressed appreciation to Mr. Jernberg for the things he had done for JA, with each student mentioning something for which they were thankful. A special wishing well display expressed the saying “We drink from wells we did not dig,” and students noted on the bricks of the well the things they liked about JA.
Guests at both receptions were invited to write messages to Mr. Jernberg that will be assembled into a scrapbook.
Mr. Jernberg was joined at the events by his wife, Pat, daughter, Jenny Hughley, and her husband, Brian.
Following the community reception, the Jernbergs were honored with a dinner hosted by the Board of Trustees. At this event, 20 previous board chairs who had served during Mr. Jernberg’s school tenures were in attendance as well as representatives from the Southern Association of Independent Schools, the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools, and AdvancEd, all organizations where Mr. Jernberg held leadership positions throughout his career in education.
A special surprise of the evening was the presentation of a restored automobile the Jernbergs drove when they were dating. The 1962 Morris Minor was restored to its original color and condition as one of the expressions of appreciation made by the Board of Trustees and friends.
