Jane Berry Thompson

Cochran Funeral Home of Blairsville announces funeral services for Jane Berry Thompson, age 73, of Blairsville, Georgia, who passed away in the early morning hours of Monday, November 21, 2011 in Altus House Hospice in Atlanta.

Jane Berry Thompson was born in Ducktown, Tennessee, in 1938, to the late Cautus Berry and the late Lorena Crawford. Most of her school years were spent in Blairsville, where she played basketball and in 1957 was named Miss Union County. She then attended the University of Georgia, where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Married in 1959, she spent several years in Virginia, before moving back to Georgia. Jane was involved in numerous local organizations, including Friends of the Library and Relay for Life. She was a recent member of the City Council and had a special interest in the Union County Historical Society and the Historic Courthouse, where she worked for numerous years. She received the Union County Historical Society's 2009 Preservationist of the Year award.

Jane was a loving mother, sister, co-worker, and friend who will be missed by many. She had a special love for her grandchildren and her great-grandson. She is survived by her two daughters, Tish Harner (Charlie) of Alpharetta, Georgia, and Laurie Higgins (Doug) of Lawrenceville, Georgia; five grandchildren: Katie Jane, Jill, Suzanne, Billy, and Melanie; plus one great grandchild, Michael. She is also survived by her two brothers, George Berry and Jerry Penland. Jane considered all her friends and co-workers as part of her extended family. She will be missed by all.

Funeral services for Jane have been scheduled for Saturday, November 26, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., in the Chapel of Cochran Funeral Home. Selected to serve as pallbearers are Jillian Harner, Suzannah Harner, Melanie Harner, Katherine Soto, and William Tomcho. Selected to serve as honorary escort to the family are: Will Penland, Amy Damera, Jack Berry, Crawford Berry, Ollie Hudgins, Harry Hudgins, and Ginny Hudgins. Burial will be in Shady Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery. Visitation at the funeral home will begin on Friday, November 25, 2011, with the family especially meeting with friends between the hours of 6 until 9 p.m.

If you wish, memorial contributions may be made to Union County Historica Society, P.O. Box 35, Blairsville, Georgia 30514.

Arrangements have been entrusted by the family to Cochran Funeral Home of Blairsville. Please share your fond memories of Jane and send condolences to the family on our website, www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.