Jayne Jennings (Morrison), 92 of Norwood, NJ, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2024, surrounded by her children. She was predeceased by her devoted husband of 58 years, Jack Jennings. She leaves behind a loving legacy in her children John, Mimi (Steve Benvenuti), Kerry (Dan Kelly), Paul, and Mark (Rosella) and grandchildren Isabel and Garret Benvenuti, Jacklyn, Brayden, and Pierce Kelly, as well as many nieces and nephews. Loving sister of Suzanne Reynolds and the late Gene Morrison and Mary Burns.
Born the third of four children to Howard and Charlotte Morrison in Wisconsin, Jayne’s journey took her to Connecticutat the age of 9 (and later New York City), where she, along with her two sisters, embarked on a 20-year musical career known as the Morrison Sisters. Managed by their talented mother, the sister singing group performed on the radio in Hartford, CT and appeared in clubs and theatres throughout New York. In the 1950’s, they traveled extensively through Europe and the Far East on USO Tours. Their harmonious voices echoed alongside well-known entertainers such as Martha Raye, Joey Lewis, Jimmy Durante and Bob Hope. During their career, they recorded numerous records on the Continental, Deed and Decca labels.
In 1960, Jayne’s life took a beautiful turn as she met and married Jack. They raised their family of five children in Norwood, NJ. They were longtime members of Immaculate Conception Church and St. Anthony’s Church in Northvale and served as co-directors of the adult and youth choirs, sharing their love for music and faith with the community. When her husband wanted to start a musical trio, Jayne learned to play the bass and joined the group, entertaining for years at weddings and other events.
After raising her family, Jayne pursued her love of art, studying oil painting at the NY Academy of Art and the Art Students League in NYC. She also studied at the Ridgewood Art Institute in Bergen County, where she later taught art classes and served on the Board of Trustees. Jayne’s talent as a painter was recognized and celebrated, as her works were exhibited in numerous national, museum, corporate, and one-woman shows. She continued her artistic journey into her retirement years in Cape May, NJ, teaching art classes at the Ocean City Arts Center in Ocean City, NJ. Her paintings are displayed in private collections throughout the US, and she was also represented in several galleries in NJ and Delaware.
A celebration of Jayne’s remarkable life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project atwoundedwarriorproject.org.
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