Mary Wise Chamberlin

After a twelve-year struggle with Alzheimer's disease, Mary Wise Chamberlin passed away peacefully, early in the morning of July 31, 2025 to be with her Lord. (2 Cor. 5:8) Born in Kalamazoo, MI on May 24,1941, to James and Janet Wise, and educated in the public schools there, Mary went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Carleton College in Northfield, MN in 1962, and a master's degree in English Literature from Columbia University in NY, NY in 1964. In 1963, she had met Bill Chamberlin, a music composition major at The Juilliard School, while they were both college students living at The International House, a student residence dormitory in New York City created by the Rockefeller Foundation, catering mainly to foreign students, having the motto, "that brotherhood may prevail." At the end of the school year on May 28,1965, they were married in a small, private ceremony at the nearby Riverside Church in Manhattan’s “upper west side.” January 21, 1977, they both came to faith in Christ, embarking on a new life with their Savior and Lord, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, they began following a different path, with Bill taking a teaching position in 1982 as Music Director of Kokomo Christian School in Kokomo, Indiana. God blessed their marriage with two children, Rebekah and Matthew, during this happily remembered time in Indiana. Five years later, they moved to Florida where Bill served as Director of Instrumental Music and Senior Choir at Lakeland Christian School. After having taught at various schools in several locations, Mary now taught English at LCS and, earning a second master's degree in Library Science from USF in Tampa, FL in 1992, she became a "media specialist," assuming duties as Lakeland Christian School's librarian for the next twenty years, retiring in 2012. With the onset of Alzheimer's soon thereafter, her loving husband of forty-eight years became her primary caregiver for the next twelve years (with the help of their daughter, Rebekah, despite her being busy as a single Mom with an infant son). Mary will be dearly missed by both of them as well as by her brother, Alfred Wise, and her sister-in-law, Nancy Napolitan, among those closest to her, not to mention the many others who knew and loved her. According to Rebekah: "Mom was heroic, wise, gracious, and a lady of unfailing faith." Bill expressed his heart: "It has been a great blessing and an extraordinary privilege to live with and love the nicest, best person I've ever known for these past sixty years.” “Hallelujah!"

Mary Wise Chamberlin

May 24, 1941 - July 31, 2025