Jane Richards

Mary “Jane” Johnson Richards, 78, of Morganton, passed away May 6, 2022, following an extended illness in Hospice Care at Union General Hospital, Blairsville, Georgia.

Ms. Richards was born September 1, 1943, in Cartersville, Georgia, to the late Fern Rogers Wilson.

Jane was raised in a small mountain community called Newport, Georgia, along Noontootla Creek, nestled in the Chattahoochee Forest.

She spent many happy days playing with her many pets, playing in the creek, and riding her favorite horse on the family farm.

She attended Dial Elementary School and graduated as Valedictorian from East Fannin High School in 1961. She then earned a full scholarship to Young Harris College.

After graduation from Young Harris in 1963, she began a career of helping people in Fannin County at the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS).

Jane’s career as social case worker and supervisor spanned 34 years, including three stints as acting director. She would later finish her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at North Georgia College in 1988.

Jane was a longtime member of Bethel Methodist Church, in Hemptown, Georgia.

Jane was an avid “book worm,” very familiar with local libraries and book stores alike. She was a specialist in the study of genealogy and “knew everybody,” never meeting a stranger because of this talent.

She often loved a good challenge hunting down hidden cemeteries, scanning census records and tracing family tree roots.

Over the years, she helped many family members and friends discover their ancestry long before Ancestry.com became popular. She was also a confirmed Daughter of the Confederacy.

Jane also enjoyed lunches with her fellow DFCS retirees and keeping in touch her many friends.

Most of all she loved her daughters and grandson and enjoyed sharing her family tree history, trivia and stories with them. She will be missed by many dear family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother and step-father, Fern R. and Everett Wilson; father, Ralph Davenport; great-aunts, Ethel Kirby and Callie Kirby; uncle, Worth Jr. Rogers; and grandmother, Lola Kirby Edwards.

Survivors include her daughters, Lesa Richards Johnson and Dana Fern Richards; grandson, Noah Johnson; sisters, Susy Bigham, Nancy (Jerry) Trotter and Sally (Allen) Lane; many nieces and nephews and special family friends, Laverne Cobb, Teresa Ross, Helen Stanley, Brenda Crawford, Grady Beaver, and Teresa Worlds.

The family would like to give special thanks to Pruitt Home Health and Hospice and Union General Hospital medical staff and nursing staff.

Funeral services were held Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 2 p.m. from the Henry-Cochran Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Tim Taylor officiating. Music was by Teresa Ross and Margaret Crawford.

Interment followed in the Kirby Family Cemetery. Pallbearers were Noah Johnson, Steve Ross, Luke Ross, Patrick Smith, Sean Stanley and Jake Stanley. Honorary Pallbearers were Fannin DFCS retirees.

The family received friends at the funeral home Saturday, May 14, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cochran Funeral Home was honored to serve the family of Jane Richards.

To send condolences to the family and sign the guest register visit www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.