Eunice Jeane Allen Howe Chambless, age 90, of Savannah, died peacefully June 29, 2014 at Spanish Oaks Retreat. She was born June 21, 1924 in Ellisburg, Casey County, Kentucky, the daughter of Quince Allen and Ruth Mobley Allen.
Jeane attended Hustonville Elementary and Hustonville High School, graduating as valedictorian of her small class in 1941. She attended Campbellsville Jr. College and Eastern Kentucky Teachers College, and began her teaching career in a 2-room schoolhouse at the age of 18. She later studied at Emory University and graduated from Georgia State University.
Jeane was an avid reader, interested in a broad range of genres and topics. She delighted in Bible study and in discussing religion and literature. Her greatest joy was in raising her five children and in spending time with her grandchildren. She impacted countless lives serving her community in many volunteer activities, most prominently 50 years as an adult Bible study teacher at First Baptist Church of Atlanta and later Northside Drive Baptist Church. She was known for being a dependable friend as much as she was enjoyed for her quirky sense of humor. She was a kind woman who lived every day with a welcoming and unwavering faith, compassion, and integrity.
Jeane took great satisfaction in her long teaching career, particularly in her many years of service teaching Math at MLK Middle School in Atlanta. She was a longtime member of the congregation of Northside Drive Baptist Church.
Jeane was preceded in death by her husband John F. Howe in 1948. Her husband Hal Vickers Chambless died in 1970. Her brother, Stephen Q. Allen and her sister, Martha Allen Baker, passed away in more recent years.
Jeane is survived by her five children and their spouses, William Howe, Vickers Chambless and Mary Jo Chambless, Jane Chambless Madison and Thomas Madison, Jr., Pace Chambless and Sheri Wender Chambless, and Thomas Chambless and Sandra Anders; her grandchildren, Thomas (Jennifer) Madison III, Margaret Madison (Sean) Sherwood, Marnie Chambless and Frankie Chambless; and her great-grandchildren, Thomas Madison IV and Caroline Madison.
The family wishes to thank her caregivers at Summer Breeze, Habersham House, and Spanish Oaks Retreat & Hospice.
A memorial service will be held in the Chapel at Northside Drive Baptist Church in Atlanta at 11:00AM on July 3, 2014.