Jane Westbrook Thomason died peacefully Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at the Carolina Inn in Fayetteville at the age of 85.
She was born November 27, 1936 in Dunn, NC, the daughter of Earl McDonald Westbrook and Mary Eliza Jones Westbrook and graduated from St. Mary’s College (high school ’54 and junior college class ’56) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ’58 where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. Jane married Gilbert Macon Thomason of Wilmington in 1962 and they remained happily married until his passing in 1996. Most of her life was spent rearing four children in Fayetteville.
Jane will always be remembered for her fun-loving demeanor, big smile, easy laugh and love of friends and family. She had an engaging sense of humor, could laugh at herself and not let little things bother her. Jane had a way of making others feel welcome and at ease and reminded her children and grandchildren in closing prayers “and may we forever be mindful of the needs of others.”
Jane’s love of extended family was fostered in childhood summers at Atlantic Beach with her grandmother, parents, sisters and many cousins with whom she remained especially close to all her life. She furthered that affection to many nieces and nephews and instilled a fondness of the beach in her children and grandchildren as many happy years were shared at their family beach house.
Jane loved to travel, enjoyed music and the arts, and engaged in long phone calls to stay connected. She kept up with friends from St. Mary’s and UNC, enjoying ACC basketball tournament weekends cheering the Tarheels.
As a long-time member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Jane served with the Altar Guild, the Episcopal Church Women and as a Sunday School teacher. She enjoyed and supported the North Carolina Symphony, Fayetteville Symphony and Junior League. Jane strengthened relationships through membership in Colonial Dames of America, Krewe de Caroline, and the St. Mary’s Alumnae Association.
Jane was preceded in death by her husband Gilbert, infant son Earl Havens Thomason and sisters Mary Ann Westbrook Barbour and Carolyn Westbrook Brady. She is survived by her children Gilbert Macon Thomason, Jr. of Venice, CA, Mary Thomason Enerson and husband John of Houston, TX, William Melnotte Thomason of Fayetteville, John Trotter Thomason and wife Jennie of Wilmington and daughters-in-law Susan Lillard Thomason of Chapel Hill and Emily Reason Thomason of Wake Forest; and grandchildren, Kathryn Thomason Sabatelli and husband Patrick, Gilbert Macon Thomason III, Mary Ann Enerson, Grace Winters Enerson, James Taylor Thomason and John (Jack) Trotter Thomason, Jr.
Jane’s family will be eternally grateful to caregiver Rhonda Cranson who supported and loved their mother, made her beautiful, and enhanced her fun and laughter in recent years. They also thank the many caring nurses and staff at Carolina Inn that filled Jane’s last years with love, laughter and compassion. Her family is forever grateful for them.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville on Tuesday, September 13th at 2:00pm, conducted by Reverend Robert Alves. The family will receive friends following the service at the Kyle House next door.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, 302 Green Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301 or St. Mary’s School, 900 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27603.
Online condolences may be left at http://www.jerniganwarren.com
Arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, NC 28301
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jane Westbrook Thomason, please visit our floral store.
