Jane Byrne Nelson, 82, died peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008 at home.
She was born March 30, 1926 in Great Neck, N.Y., and later moved with her family to Bellamy, where her father was company doctor for Alison Lumber Company.
She graduated from Judson College in 1947 and also attended Columbia University in New York. She later moved to Foley and taught English at Foley High School until 1952. She married John Ray Nelson of Bon Secour in 1950.
She was an active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Bon Secour where she had served as Senior Warden on the Vestry. She was a member of the Women of the Church and a longtime choir member and music director. She also used her musical talents to sing with the South Baldwin Civic Chorus for several years.
She was a charter member of the Foley Lion’s Club, served as a trustee at Swift School in Bon Secour and was a member and former president of Blakeley State Park and was serving on the Blakeley Board and Blakeley Authority.
Her devoted involvement in historical organizations included United Daughters of the Confederacy, Mayflower Society (serving as Alabama Lt. Governor), Colonial Dames of the 17th Century and she had the distinct honor of being Regent of the Fort Bowyer Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
She was on the Board of Directors of Bon Secour Fisheries for many years and assisted her husband, the president of the company, with daily operational decisions until her retirement in 1991.
She loved reading all her life and was a member of the Foley Book Club. She enjoyed playing the piano, especially with her grandchildren, and played Bridge on a regular basis.
Her devotion to her family, friends and her community was evident in her many acts of support and volunteerism. As her legacy she leaves her kind-hearted smile, her faith and principles, and her love of history and for this country.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. David C. Byrne and Helen E. Byrne, brothers, David C. Byrne Jr. and Albert E. Byrne.
Survivors include her husband of 58 years, John Ray Nelson; three sons, John Andrew (Mary E. Murchison) Nelson of Lillian; David B. (Alison S. “Pud”) Nelson of Fish River and Christopher L. (Susan) Nelson of Magnolia Springs; grandchildren, Mary Marks Nelson and E. Lockett Nelson, Davic C. Nelson and Elizabeth N. Nelson, Emily I. Nelson and Andrew S. Nelson; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Bon Secour.
The family requests memorial donations be made to St. Peter’s Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund, P.O. Box 29, Bon Secour, AL 36511.
Arrangements are by Pine Rest Funeral Home Inc., Foley.
