Jane Leatherbury Newman

Jane Leatherbury Newman passed away peacefully at home on November 19, at the age of 88. Jane is pre-deceased by her beloved husband, Dr. Lucian Newman Junior, her parents, Frances Stainback Leatherbury and Charles Cunningham Leatherbury, and her sister Frances Leatherbury Williams. She is survived by her two sisters Lucy Leatherbury Stephens and Ann Marie Leatherbury Allen, and three children: Jane Newman Williams (John), Lucian Newman III (Melissa), and Charles Leatherbury Newman (Pam), and seven grandchildren: Carl Mandel Nechtman (Elise), Charles Schilling Nechtman (Samantha), Jane Elizabeth Nechtman Douglas (Taylor), Virginia Walton Newman Vandervoort (Kenneth), Lucian Newman IV (Lauren), Elizabeth Linden Newman Butts (Hunter), and Charles Leatherbury Newman, Jr. and 10 great-grandchildren.

Jane was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama on October 25, 1935. She graduated from Murphy High School—where she was valedictorian, then continued her education at the University of Alabama majoring in Spanish. During her time at Alabama, she was, and remained, an active member of Kappa Delta sorority and received an assortment of honors, including the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa and Mortar Board. It was in Tuscaloosa where she met the love of her life—Lucian Newman Junior. They were married in Mobile in 1957.

Jane began teaching school shortly after marriage, but built a lasting legacy of community service. Organizations near and dear to her heart were: Colonial Dames, Dumbarton House, Sulgrave Manor, Leadership of Alabama, the Humane Society, and the Alabama School of Math and Science. She was a board member of Dumbarton House, Sulgrave Manor, and Alabama School of Math and Science. She was quite proud of Serendipity and the Santa Claus Society, dance clubs she founded in the 1970s in Gadsden.

Janes’ hobbies included: entertaining, traveling, tennis, and making precious memories with her family. Jane was known for throwing countless parties at her house. She epitomized a true southern lady and knew how to “do it right.” Jane and Lucian traveled across the globe, and graciously, shared this love of travel with their family. They spent countless summers on Lake Guntersville and took annual ski trips out west.

We would like to thank our excellent care providers for their love and attention for our mother.

The memorial service will be at 11:00 at the First Baptist Church Gadsden on November 27th with a visitation beginning at 10:00 at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that charitable donations be made to Westbrook Christian School or the Humane Society.