Earlene Jessee, executive director of Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia, is taking a sabbatical to address medical issues, as well as focus on academic projects.
Jessee said she expects to return to her position Sept. 1. In the meantime, day-to-day operations in the WMUV office are being handled by Laura McDaniel, WMUV's assistant executive director.
Jessee said she has been dealing with pulmonary issues and doctors told her she needed time away from the office to address them.
“I thought it was going to be a quick fix but it's going to take a little longer,” she said. “So I asked the [WMUV] board of trustees for a sabbatical and they graciously allowed me to do it.”
Jessee said she also is devoting time to several academic projects.
Becky McKinney, WMUV president, said the board of trustees felt this was an opportunity to “practice what we preach.”
“We encourage our women to focus on spirit, mind and body and we wanted Earlene to do the same,” she said. “It's time for her to focus on healing and we're delighted she can take the opportunity to do that.”