Jeremiah Wolfe

Jeremiah Wolfe
Wolfe receiving the Patriot Award in 2013
Born(1924-09-28)September 28, 1924
Qualla Boundary, U.S.
DiedMarch 12, 2018(2018-03-12) (aged 93)
Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
NationalityEastern Band Cherokee, American
Occupations
TitleBeloved Man
SpouseJuanita Wolfe
Military service
Allegiance United States
BranchUnited States Navy
Years of service1943–1950
Rank Signalman 2nd Class
Battles / warsWorld War II

Jeremiah "Jerry" Wolfe (September 28, 1924 – March 12, 2018) was a respected elder of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. In 2013 he was awarded the title of "Beloved Man" by his tribe, an honor that had not been given out for more than 200 years.[1][2]

Wolfe grew up in the Big Cove community on the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina. He was one of the last Cherokee stonecutters, a stickball caller, a storyteller, and a US Navy and World War II veteran.[1][3] He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Western Carolina University.[4][5] He was the recipient of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine in March 2017.[6]

He was a fluent speaker of the Cherokee language and supported teaching it to young people to revive and preserve the language. In this role, he was interviewed for the documentary "First Language – The Race to Save Cherokee".[7][8]

In July 2021, a segment of U.S. Route 441 (US 441), between US 74 and US 19, was named in his honor.[9][10][11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Dr. Jeremiah "Jerry" Wolfe – obituary".
  2. ^ "Obituary of Jeremiah Wolfe". Long House Funeral Home Inc. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "Wolfe wears mantle of Cherokee culture as Beloved Man".
  4. ^ "WCU honors revered Cherokee elder during spring commencement".
  5. ^ "In Memoriam". www.wcu.edu. August 23, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  6. ^ "The Long Leaf Pine Society - View Roster". longleafpinesociety.org. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  7. ^ "Jerry Wolfe, Cherokee honorary doctorate recipient, dies at 93".
  8. ^ "First Language - The Race to Save Cherokee". YouTube. 10 minutes and 15 seconds in.
  9. ^ McKie B.P., Scott (July 27, 2020). "Signs unveiled officially naming Beloved Man Dr. Jerry Wolfe Highway". Cherokee One Feather. Cherokee, NC. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  10. ^ "Highway dedicated for Beloved Man Dr. Jerry Wolfe". Smoky Mountain Times. Bryson City, NC. July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  11. ^ NCDOTcommunications (July 30, 2021). NCDOT Now: July 30, Drone Delivers Supplies; Highway Dedicated to Cherokee Beloved Man. YouTube. Retrieved July 30, 2021.