Obituary: Sandra Jamison

Sandra “Sandy” Jamison passed away in June after a brief illness that followed years of living with chronic pain and

disability. She was an experienced nurse and nurse educator, teaching nursing for 26 years, first at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) and then as a faculty member at Messiah from 1992 to 2001. She was our department chair of nursing from 1992-1999. After her retirement, Jamison was active with the national organization Nurses Christian Fellowship (NCF) and at the Grantham Church and Messiah Lifeways as a deacon and small group leader.

She said the greatest achievement of her work was the entry of several hundred wonderful and skilled graduates into the nursing workforce to make a difference and to extend Jesus’ ministry of health and compassion to countless patients and their families.

Retired nursing faculty member Arlene Miller said, “Sandra came to the nursing department at the time our accreditation was to be reviewed. Her first major responsibility was to collect all relevant information and organize the preparation. She distributed responsibilities to each of us. She had a gift for getting things done. She worked hard and in the process helped all to work hard as well.”

Wanda Thuma-McDermond was equally affirming. “I first met Sandy at IWU when I started a summer intensive master’s degree in community health nursing with a transcultural nursing emphasis. We connected as former ‘MKs’ (missionary kids) from Africa. When I … returned after the summer session rather obviously pregnant, her first question was, ‘Do you have prenatal care?’ Second was, ‘When are you due?’ I reassured everyone that I was due in December and could complete the semester (and yes, I had cobbled together some prenatal coverage). Their response was the ultimatum that I go home at Thanksgiving – and stay there! In hindsight, her nursing assessment and care was much appreciated. She also took the chance on me as a clinical adjunct after she had transitioned to Messiah’s nursing department when I appeared with a second pregnancy. I have appreciated Sandy’s mentorship, graciousness and expertise. Once I was a full-time nursing academic, she encouraged me to present my research at an NCF conference. Other fond memories of Sandy were trips to Wegman’s and Aldi’s to buy international goodies not locally available – probably remnants of our multicultural childhoods.”

We extend our deepest sympathies to Jamison’s siblings, nieces and nephews.