McRAE - Janie Colleen Heath O'Connor, 74, of McRae passed away at Community Hospice in Vidalia on July 14, 2008, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born near Soperton in Treutlen County, Georgia, on October 23, 1933, the daughter of Lehman and Ruby Page Heath.
Janie grew up in Treutlen County and attended school there, graduating from Soperton High School in 1950. Aspiring to be a teacher, she attended Andrew College in Cuthbert, Georgia, where she obtained an associate degree, and then a BA in English from Wesleyan College in Macon, graduating in 1954.
At Soperton High School, she met the love of her life, Dan O'Connor, and after his graduation from Georgia Tech and hers from Wesleyan, they were married in 1954 at Lothair Methodist Church in Treutlen County. Thus began a life together that took them to Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, for completion of his military service, and then to Atlanta, Dublin, and Jesup while Dan was employed as an engineer with the Georgia Dept. of Transportation.
They later moved to Statesboro when Dan became part owner of a bridge construction company, and in 1976 they moved to Dan's family home in Dodge County, Georgia, where they lived for the balance of their lives.
Janie delayed her calling as a teacher to raise a family and to fulfill her role as wife, but when she finally took up education as a profession, she excelled. Her teaching years were spent at Odum Junior High School, Southeast Bulloch Junior High School, and later at Telfair County High School. Her career was completed and she was most rewarded when she taught at the Telfair State Prison in Helena, Georgia. There she received many awards, including one for having 60 of 60 pupils pass the GED in 1992-1994. She was also honored as the STAR teacher for Telfair County twice.
She was an active member and past president of the Telfair Retired Teachers Association. She was also an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society, and served as president of the Alpha Omega Chapter for two terms.
Janie was also a member of the McRae Duplicate Bridge Club. Before taking up teaching as a profession, Janie was a teacher in many other ways. First, she raised - and taught - her own children well. She also taught Sunday school groups from tots to adults over the years at many churches, including the First Baptist Churches of Dublin, Jesup, Statesboro, and McRae. Many lives were enriched by her dedication and preparation, and in return the Lord enriched her life as she saw the fruits of her labors through the years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sister, Carolyn Heath Brantley.
She is survived by her brother, Benny Heath (Carolyn) of Soperton, her children, Patrick T. O'Connor (Carol) of Savannah, Ben O'Connor (Debra) of Ailey, Cathy O'Connor Routh (Billy) of McRae, and Dani O'Connor Berryhill (Brad) of Birmingham, Alabama. She is also survived by her loving grandchildren, Tyler O'Connor (Maggie), Will Routh, Thomas O'Connor, Lehman Routh, Daniel O'Connor, Nathan O'Connor, Janna Cate Routh, Tate O'Connor, Matthew O'Connor and Paige Berryhill, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends and former students.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at Lowe's Funeral Home in Helena.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, July 17, 2008 at First Baptist Church of McRae, with Dr. William Connell officiating.
A graveside service will follow at the McMillan Family Cemetery.
Remembrances may be made to McRae First Baptist Church Building Fund, 310 College St., McRae, Georgia, 31055.
She was born near Soperton in Treutlen County, Georgia, on October 23, 1933, the daughter of Lehman and Ruby Page Heath.
Janie grew up in Treutlen County and attended school there, graduating from Soperton High School in 1950. Aspiring to be a teacher, she attended Andrew College in Cuthbert, Georgia, where she obtained an associate degree, and then a BA in English from Wesleyan College in Macon, graduating in 1954.
At Soperton High School, she met the love of her life, Dan O'Connor, and after his graduation from Georgia Tech and hers from Wesleyan, they were married in 1954 at Lothair Methodist Church in Treutlen County. Thus began a life together that took them to Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, for completion of his military service, and then to Atlanta, Dublin, and Jesup while Dan was employed as an engineer with the Georgia Dept. of Transportation.
They later moved to Statesboro when Dan became part owner of a bridge construction company, and in 1976 they moved to Dan's family home in Dodge County, Georgia, where they lived for the balance of their lives.
Janie delayed her calling as a teacher to raise a family and to fulfill her role as wife, but when she finally took up education as a profession, she excelled. Her teaching years were spent at Odum Junior High School, Southeast Bulloch Junior High School, and later at Telfair County High School. Her career was completed and she was most rewarded when she taught at the Telfair State Prison in Helena, Georgia. There she received many awards, including one for having 60 of 60 pupils pass the GED in 1992-1994. She was also honored as the STAR teacher for Telfair County twice.
She was an active member and past president of the Telfair Retired Teachers Association. She was also an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society, and served as president of the Alpha Omega Chapter for two terms.
Janie was also a member of the McRae Duplicate Bridge Club. Before taking up teaching as a profession, Janie was a teacher in many other ways. First, she raised - and taught - her own children well. She also taught Sunday school groups from tots to adults over the years at many churches, including the First Baptist Churches of Dublin, Jesup, Statesboro, and McRae. Many lives were enriched by her dedication and preparation, and in return the Lord enriched her life as she saw the fruits of her labors through the years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sister, Carolyn Heath Brantley.
She is survived by her brother, Benny Heath (Carolyn) of Soperton, her children, Patrick T. O'Connor (Carol) of Savannah, Ben O'Connor (Debra) of Ailey, Cathy O'Connor Routh (Billy) of McRae, and Dani O'Connor Berryhill (Brad) of Birmingham, Alabama. She is also survived by her loving grandchildren, Tyler O'Connor (Maggie), Will Routh, Thomas O'Connor, Lehman Routh, Daniel O'Connor, Nathan O'Connor, Janna Cate Routh, Tate O'Connor, Matthew O'Connor and Paige Berryhill, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends and former students.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at Lowe's Funeral Home in Helena.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, July 17, 2008 at First Baptist Church of McRae, with Dr. William Connell officiating.
A graveside service will follow at the McMillan Family Cemetery.
Remembrances may be made to McRae First Baptist Church Building Fund, 310 College St., McRae, Georgia, 31055.
McRAE - Janie Colleen Heath O'Connor, 74, of McRae passed away at Community Hospice in Vidalia on July 14, 2008, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born near Soperton in Treutlen County, Georgia, on October 23, 1933, the daughter of Lehman and Ruby Page Heath.
Janie grew up in Treutlen County and attended school there, graduating from Soperton High School in 1950. Aspiring to be a teacher, she attended Andrew College in Cuthbert, Georgia, where she obtained an associate degree, and then a BA in English from Wesleyan College in Macon, graduating in 1954.
At Soperton High School, she met the love of her life, Dan O'Connor, and after his graduation from Georgia Tech and hers from Wesleyan, they were married in 1954 at Lothair Methodist Church in Treutlen County. Thus began a life together that took them to Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, for completion of his military service, and then to Atlanta, Dublin, and Jesup while Dan was employed as an engineer with the Georgia Dept. of Transportation.
They later moved to Statesboro when Dan became part owner of a bridge construction company, and in 1976 they moved to Dan's family home in Dodge County, Georgia, where they lived for the balance of their lives.
Janie delayed her calling as a teacher to raise a family and to fulfill her role as wife, but when she finally took up education as a profession, she excelled. Her teaching years were spent at Odum Junior High School, Southeast Bulloch Junior High School, and later at Telfair County High School. Her career was completed and she was most rewarded when she taught at the Telfair State Prison in Helena, Georgia. There she received many awards, including one for having 60 of 60 pupils pass the GED in 1992-1994. She was also honored as the STAR teacher for Telfair County twice.
She was an active member and past president of the Telfair Retired Teachers Association. She was also an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society, and served as president of the Alpha Omega Chapter for two terms.
Janie was also a member of the McRae Duplicate Bridge Club. Before taking up teaching as a profession, Janie was a teacher in many other ways. First, she raised - and taught - her own children well. She also taught Sunday school groups from tots to adults over the years at many churches, including the First Baptist Churches of Dublin, Jesup, Statesboro, and McRae. Many lives were enriched by her dedication and preparation, and in return the Lord enriched her life as she saw the fruits of her labors through the years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sister, Carolyn Heath Brantley.
She is survived by her brother, Benny Heath (Carolyn) of Soperton, her children, Patrick T. O'Connor (Carol) of Savannah, Ben O'Connor (Debra) of Ailey, Cathy O'Connor Routh (Billy) of McRae, and Dani O'Connor Berryhill (Brad) of Birmingham, Alabama. She is also survived by her loving grandchildren, Tyler O'Connor (Maggie), Will Routh, Thomas O'Connor, Lehman Routh, Daniel O'Connor, Nathan O'Connor, Janna Cate Routh, Tate O'Connor, Matthew O'Connor and Paige Berryhill, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends and former students.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at Lowe's Funeral Home in Helena.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, July 17, 2008 at First Baptist Church of McRae, with Dr. William Connell officiating.
A graveside service will follow at the McMillan Family Cemetery.
Remembrances may be made to McRae First Baptist Church Building Fund, 310 College St., McRae, Georgia, 31055.
She was born near Soperton in Treutlen County, Georgia, on October 23, 1933, the daughter of Lehman and Ruby Page Heath.
Janie grew up in Treutlen County and attended school there, graduating from Soperton High School in 1950. Aspiring to be a teacher, she attended Andrew College in Cuthbert, Georgia, where she obtained an associate degree, and then a BA in English from Wesleyan College in Macon, graduating in 1954.
At Soperton High School, she met the love of her life, Dan O'Connor, and after his graduation from Georgia Tech and hers from Wesleyan, they were married in 1954 at Lothair Methodist Church in Treutlen County. Thus began a life together that took them to Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, for completion of his military service, and then to Atlanta, Dublin, and Jesup while Dan was employed as an engineer with the Georgia Dept. of Transportation.
They later moved to Statesboro when Dan became part owner of a bridge construction company, and in 1976 they moved to Dan's family home in Dodge County, Georgia, where they lived for the balance of their lives.
Janie delayed her calling as a teacher to raise a family and to fulfill her role as wife, but when she finally took up education as a profession, she excelled. Her teaching years were spent at Odum Junior High School, Southeast Bulloch Junior High School, and later at Telfair County High School. Her career was completed and she was most rewarded when she taught at the Telfair State Prison in Helena, Georgia. There she received many awards, including one for having 60 of 60 pupils pass the GED in 1992-1994. She was also honored as the STAR teacher for Telfair County twice.
She was an active member and past president of the Telfair Retired Teachers Association. She was also an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society, and served as president of the Alpha Omega Chapter for two terms.
Janie was also a member of the McRae Duplicate Bridge Club. Before taking up teaching as a profession, Janie was a teacher in many other ways. First, she raised - and taught - her own children well. She also taught Sunday school groups from tots to adults over the years at many churches, including the First Baptist Churches of Dublin, Jesup, Statesboro, and McRae. Many lives were enriched by her dedication and preparation, and in return the Lord enriched her life as she saw the fruits of her labors through the years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sister, Carolyn Heath Brantley.
She is survived by her brother, Benny Heath (Carolyn) of Soperton, her children, Patrick T. O'Connor (Carol) of Savannah, Ben O'Connor (Debra) of Ailey, Cathy O'Connor Routh (Billy) of McRae, and Dani O'Connor Berryhill (Brad) of Birmingham, Alabama. She is also survived by her loving grandchildren, Tyler O'Connor (Maggie), Will Routh, Thomas O'Connor, Lehman Routh, Daniel O'Connor, Nathan O'Connor, Janna Cate Routh, Tate O'Connor, Matthew O'Connor and Paige Berryhill, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends and former students.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at Lowe's Funeral Home in Helena.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, July 17, 2008 at First Baptist Church of McRae, with Dr. William Connell officiating.
A graveside service will follow at the McMillan Family Cemetery.
Remembrances may be made to McRae First Baptist Church Building Fund, 310 College St., McRae, Georgia, 31055.
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