Full NameHARDIE, Beatrice Jessie (Sr Jessie)Date of Birth4 March 1897Date of Death17 April 1988Biography
born 4 March 1897 Rolleston, Canterbury
daughter of Andrew HARDIE and Annie Jane BUTLER
died 17 April 1988, aged 91
Born to Scottish parents, educated at Waddington Public School and Christchurch West District High School. Undertook a course at the Christchurch Normal Training School and studied at Canterbury College. Obtained her Teachers’ “C” Certificate. She taught at Rakaia.
PWTI 1922-1923 — applied for Missionary service in India.
Ordained Deaconess as Missionary Educational Worker for India 12 September 1923; arrived India 5 October 1923.
On arrival to language school and learnt Urdu and Hindi.
Appointed to Girls School, Jagadhri as Principal 1924, a position she held until 1951.
In 1925 when Mary Salmond and Nellie Ravn were invalided home, Jessie was put in charge of Women’s Evangelistic Work in villages in addition to her school work. The work at the school broadened and increased, the School was raised to a Middle School and trained teachers were used, and the curriculum broadened. In 1949 a new Christian Girls School was opened in Jagadhri. Sr Jessie set high standards, she welded her staff into a team and she had the knack of encouraging people to do their best.
A member of the Jagadhri Church, Superintendent of the Sunday School and leader of the Women’s Missionary groups.
She returned to New Zealand in May 1951 after 28 years’ service because of her increasing deafness.
After Deputation Work, she retired 31 March 1953.
She had been St Pauls Christchurch “Own Missionary” and later was one of the first women elders.
She was a member of the first National Executive of the A.P.W.
General Secretary YWCA Christchurch Jan 1953 to 1962