Left to right Janice Stooksbury, Yvonne Shaw, Jamie Baird and Pat Nichols taught school together and also shared time together during retirement. 

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Some of the best friends we ever make are made at school, and that goes for teachers, too.  Such was the case for school teachers Yvonne Shaw and Jamie Baird.  WATCH Yvonne’s ceremony HERE.

Over the years at Jacksboro Elementary School, the two team taught, had connecting rooms and also taught reading recovery together.  Even into retirement the pair stayed in touch sharing a meal or taking a trip every month except last Friday because of the Coronavirus.  Sadly, Shaw died on Saturday.

“She was the first person I saw when I got to work every morning.  She always had my back and anyone else’s back she loved,” said Baird.

Baird, Shaw and two other JES retirees, Janice Stooksbury and Pat Nichols took up bike riding.  Baird tells the story of their first ride.  It was the Virginia Creeper Trail, and the ride went pretty well until the foursome came off the mountain.  Shaw didn’t turn at the sign with the other three going straight.  The trio had no idea where Shaw went and was worried the trail was too narrow, but Shaw had the last laugh.  Baird said, “She beat us back to the pick-up area, and we had probably ridden two more miles.”

Shaw had a love for flowers.  She loved making paper flowers, too, according to Baird.  She recalls one year, when it was still OK to do fun projects with your students, Shaw decided we would make paper flowers for the basketball banquet.  Baird said, “Before we were through, we had borrowed tissue paper from everyone at JES and just about all of the classrooms were making flowers.  What an undertaking!  But man did that banquet out shine them all.”

“My heart is broken, but I know she is at peace.  I did love this lady,” said Baird.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/02/2020-6AM)