Jane Rhea White Deese, 82, of Roanoke Rapids passed away Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at Liberty Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Jane was born August 30, 1937, in Halifax County to the late Thomas Bashford White and Reba Rhea White. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Ed Deese.
Jane grew up in Roanoke Rapids and attended Roanoke Rapids Graded School District.
Jane attended Rosemary Elementary School, and Roanoke Rapids High School. She graduated in 1955.
After high school, she attended Saint Mary’s College (1955-1957) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1957-1959). She graduated in 1959, and began her teaching career in Lynchburg, Virginia.
She taught at EC Glass High School, and then became Art Supervisor for Lynchburg City Schools.
During that time, she taught art classes on TV.
Her students winning multiple awards (1st, 2nd, and 3rd along with several honorable mentions) in Art Contests and the Keep Virginia Green contest was the highlight of her teaching career.
Jane later completed her M.Ed. at Lynchburg College and East Carolina University.
She moved back to Roanoke Rapids where she taught art for Roanoke Rapids Graded Schools and Halifax County Schools. She married Ed W. Deese on June 24, 1970. They had one daughter, Sarah.
Jane retired in 1989 after 30 years of teaching from Northwest Halifax High School (Halifax County Schools). After her retirement, she ran for the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District School Board of Trustees in November of 1989, and has served a remarkable 28 years on the board. She has been active in her tenure on the board, serving on many committees. A major contribution to the district has been serving as the Chairman of the Policy Committee for many years, ensuring the district is in compliance with Federal and State laws. She has attended countless North Carolina School Board Association conferences and district meetings through the years. Jane has been an active member of the Halifax County Arts Council, the Woman’s Club, and the Roanoke Rapids High School Alumni Association.
She is a lifelong member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Roanoke Rapids.
Jane enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, Nathan and Susannah Davis.
Jane is survived by her daughter, Sarah Davis; her grandchildren, Nathan Davis and Susannah Davis all of Roanoke Rapids; her step-grandson, Matthew Deese; her sister-in-law, Dorothy Hatten of Steinhatchee, Fl; her cousins, Joe and Rosanna Rhea of Windsor and Rhea Elliott Cooper of Wrightsville Beach; special friends,Pat Barnes, Ann Boyd Smith, E. B. Odom, Patsy Harrell, Wanda Sykes, Suzanne Garriss, Wilma White, Carey Turman, Deborah Decker, Keith Sledge, Terri and Rex Stainback, Jeff and Amanda White, Orace Pollard, Emily Harris, Jean Thompson, Carolyn Joyner and Mary Drake Johnston.
A memorial service to celebrate Jane’s life will be held Sunday, March 8, 2020 at 3:00 P.M. at All Saints Episcopal Church with The Reverend Sonny Browne officiating.
Entombment will follow in the Church Columbarium.
The family will receive friends Saturday, March 7, 2020 at Hockaday Funeral and Cremation Service from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M., and other times at the home and following the service in the All Saints Parish House.
Online condolences may be sent to www.hockadayfs.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Roanoke Rapids High School Alumni Association, PO Box 1280, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870.