Wava Johanna Teilmann Perry
Wava Johanna Teilmann Perry, age 78, of Louisa, passed away peacefully on May 1st, 2024, at her home, surrounded by her family.
Born in Tazewell, Tennessee on April 3, 1948, Johanna was the daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Gunnar J. Teilmann, Jr. of Johnson City, Tennessee, and the late Wava Hale Teilmann of Comer’s Rock, Virginia. Johanna lived the majority of her childhood and adolescent years in Malaysia and Singapore where her parents served as Methodist missionaries. She had an adventurous spirit and often accompanied her father on travels, volunteering at a hospital in Sarawak, Malaysia with her sister. Following her graduation from the Singapore American School (SAS) she, at age 16, was accepted as a student at Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia where she met her husband, James H. Perry. After earning her B.A. degree, she and Jim married and lived in Bristol, Virginia, where Johanna was employed by the Department of Social Services until the birth of daughter Joy Adrienne Perry.
Johanna, Jim and Joy then lived three years in Singapore where Jim was employed by Johanna’s alma mater (SAS), and daughters Jelita Doreen Perry and Janna Beth Perry were born. This unique opportunity for them to live as a family in Singapore, along with Johanna’s parents who were still serving as missionaries in that area, was a core part of setting the course for their partnership in life and in ministry for the years to come.
Upon returning to the United States, the family lived in Delaware briefly, followed by a move to Madison, Va where Johanna supported Jim’s enrollment in Wesley Theological Seminary by caring for their three young children and working at the Greene County Day Care Center and Orange County Social Services. In her love and support of Jim’s call to ministry, Johanna also began her role in ministry, which took many forms over the course of Jim’s appointments throughout Virginia. During their years in Charlottesville, Johanna began and completed the education required by Piedmont Virginia Community College to become a Registered Nurse. In the midst of nursing school, she gave birth to son Jordan Page Perry. At each new home, Johanna shared her gentle, loving spirit and listening care with patients in numerous hospitals, working in a variety of nursing settings: O/B and nursery, Medical/Surgery, Pediatrics, Geriatric, community health, and medical mission trips overseas.
Johanna was a loving mother and caregiver, not only to her biological children, but also to numerous at-risk children through emergency and long-term foster care.
Johanna radiated light and gratitude, often expressing her appreciation for the support and many meaningful moments of self-giving love offered to her by friends and co-workers in times of joy and fellowship, as well as in times of stress and grief. Johanna’s uncle, a Methodist pastor, Clyde Lundy once said that Christians ought to be “Impersonators of the Gospel.” Such was the life she lived out. Whether it was love for her family, patient, co-worker, or friend Johanna lived a life of self-giving love - not out of a sense of duty or responsibility alone, but because serving was an essential part of her calling in life.
Johanna is survived by her husband Jim Perry of Louisa, Virginia; daughters Joy Rosson (and husband Lee) of Louisa, Virginia, Jelita Perry of Louisa, Virginia; Janna Perry (and husband Dana Cruikshank) of Blacksburg, Virginia, and son, Jordan Page Perry (and wife Katie Schetlick) of Charlottesville, Virginia; siblings Elisabeth Teilmann Atkins, Evalin Teilmann Trice, and Gunnar Johann Teilmann III. She derived great joy from the spirit and accomplishments of her grandchildren: Coleman Rosson, Haley Rosson, Perry Hopkins, Brady Hopkins; Genevieve Cruikshank, and Will Cruikshank.
The family will welcome friends during a visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 3rd, 2024, at Preddy Funeral Home, 301 S Main Street, Gordonsville, VA 22942.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 4th, 2024, at Mt. Zion Community Church, 2394 Mt. Zion Church Road, Oak Park, VA 22730. Interment will be private.
The family wishes to express their deep gratitude for the loving care and support provided by Heartland Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Parkinson’s Foundation.
