Obituary of Jane Verlenden Laws

Jane Verlenden Laws, age 97, died on Friday, May 20, 2016. Born in Birmingham, Alabama to Warren Davis Lewis, Jr. and Blanche Evans Lewis, Jane lived most of her life on Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. Following her graduation as valedictorian from Judson College, Marion, Alabama, in 1940, she returned to the mountain as a fifth grade teacher at Lookout Mountain Elementary School. In 1941, she married William Lane Verlenden II, who had recently moved to Chattanooga from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to take a position at Standard-Coosa-Thatcher Co., the third generation of his family to do so. The couple had one daughter and two sons. Jane served as a women's Bible leader at the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church for many years. She also taught middle-school-age children in the Sunday School and a women's circle of her "church ladies" at St. Barnabas. She was a member and officer of the Junior League and served as President of the Garden Club of Lookout Mountain, maintaining an avid interest in gardening until her death. Jane served as a community volunteer in a number of capacities, including one of her favorites, the Chattanooga Speech and Hearing Center. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband William Lane Verlenden II; her late husband Hiram A. Laws III; her brother, Warren D. Lewis III; and her sister, Margaret Lewis Alford. She is survived by her daughter, Catherine Verlenden Eldridge (Jim) of Chattanooga; son, Dr. William Lane Verlenden III (Judy) of Carmel Valley, California; son, John Serrill Verlenden (Jorge) of New Orleans, Louisiana; and daughters by marriage Patricia Laws Elkins (Don) of Signal Mountain, Tennessee; Mary Laws Sulser (Leon) of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, and Christie Laws Coolidge (Bill) of Hixson, Tennessee. Grandchildren include David A. Flanigan, Jr. (Cissy) of Atlanta, Georgia; Patrick Lane Flanigan (Jeanne) of Harrisonburg, Virginia; Jonathan Evans Kosik (Bridget) of Nashville, Tennessee; Thomas Morgan Kosik (Courtney) of Hixson, Tennessee; Lysbet Jane Verlenden and William Lane Verlenden IV, both of San Francisco, California; John Harrison Verlenden (Hillary) of Covington, Louisiana; and Nikos Ray Verlenden of New Orleans, Louisiana. 10 great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews also survive. Special thanks go to Alexian Brothers Senior Ministries; Brother Andrew Thome; primary caregiver Angel Shipley; compassionate nursing staff at Alexian Healthcare; and Dr. Terry Melvin, Medical Director and Carol Beasley, RN of Hospice of Chattanooga. Following a private interment at Forest Hills Cemetery, the family will receive friends at the Fellowship Hall of Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church beginning at 10:30 on Thursday, June 2. Funeral services will follow in the Sanctuary at noon, with Rev. Joe Novenson and Rev. Frank Hitchings officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, PO Box 57, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350; the Garden Club of Lookout Mountain, PO Box 11, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350; Hospice of Chattanooga, 4411 Oakwood Dr., Chattanooga, TN 37416; or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home & Cremation Center.