Jessie Gaynor

Biography

Jessie Gaynor composed dozens of songs for children, including collections like Songs for the Little Ones, earning admiration for melodies that celebrated curiosity and kindness; her classroom experience as a music teacher informed every lyric and motif she penned. Her works brought music into homes and schools, guiding generations of young singers through playful lessons while modeling grace and resilience.

She also collaborated with poets and educators to create accessible choral material and gentle parlor pieces, always mindful of nurturing both musical skill and moral imagination. Her interment at Bellefontaine Cemetery honors a life spent giving voice to childhood wonder and teaching that music could be both instructive and buoyantly joyful.