Jane Coulbourn McLemore died Tuesday evening, Jan. 20, 2009, after a brief illness. She was 94. Born in Waverly, she was the daughter of U.O. Coulbourn and Elizabeth Sykes Coulbourn. She attended Longwood College and advanced her education in the practice of art at Richmond Professional Institute, now Virginia Commonwealth University.
As a young teacher, Mrs. McLemore came to Suffolk and married the late James L. McLemore Jr. Together for 61 years, they were Suffolk residents for their entire married life and members of Main Street United Methodist Church. Mrs. McLemore’s interests included her memberships in the Suffolk Literary Club, the Nansemond River Garden Club, and the Suffolk Art League. She enjoyed her artistic talents through decorative arts, flower arranging, and in her later years, painting still life scenes. She was also an avid gardener and loved her Bridge Club.
Her greatest earthly joy was her family; her husband and three children were devoted to her. She is survived by two sons and a daughter, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: son, James L. McLemore III and wife, Mardane, of Suffolk; their three children, James L. McLemore IV, Thomas B. McLemore and Sarah Elizabeth McLemore: daughter, Elizabeth M. White and husband, Al, of Poquoson, their daughter, Jane Garrett M. White: son, John C. McLemore and wife, Lillian, of Norfolk, their three daughters, Maria Elizabeth McLemore, Ann Bolling McLemore and Katherine James McLemore.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. at Main Street United Methodist Church, by the Rev. Robert J. Parks. Burial at Cedar Hill Cemetery will be private. Visitation with the family will be Friday evening from 7 to 8 p.m. at the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory, 509 West Washington St., Suffolk. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, 202 N. Main St., Suffolk, VA 23434 or the Nansemond-Suffolk Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1515, Suffolk, VA 23439-1515.