Jane (Cunningham) Yance

Martha Jane Cunningham Yance, born December 12, 1947 died peacefully on June 12, 2021 at the age of 73. She is preceded in death by her father, Richard Berkley Cunningham, her mother Doris Anne Swift Cunningham, and her brother Richard Berkley Cunningham, jr. She is survived by her sister, Sharon Anne Cunningham Finklea(John Lee), her sons James Alexander Yance, jr., Randolph Tucker Yance(Dana Martin), and William W. Yance(Jessica Brooks), and daughter Elizabeth Berkley Yance DeLaney(Mark DeLaney), her grandchildren Emily Mae Yance, Andrea Taylor Yance, Mary Martin Yance, Katherine Tucker Yance, Randolph Tucker Yance,jr., and Brooks Morgan Yance, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Jane was a 1966 graduate of Murphy High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society, the cheerleading squad, and was voted Miss Panther Spirit 1966. In 1970, she graduated with honors from Mississippi State College for Women, presently Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and earned her teaching certificate. Jane was president of the Mortar Board, a member of the Torch Honor Society, Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society, Lantern Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society, Presidents Council, and recognized in the MSCW Hall of Fame. After college Jane taught school in Alabama and Georgia, and later owned and operated "Martha Jane's" antique gift shop in Mobile, Alabama. Jane was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Throughout her life Jane was very giving of her time and artistic talents for countless fundraising events and activities organized through the church, St. Paul’s Episcopal School, the Junior League and various charitable organizations.

Jane was a full-time mother to her own four kids, and a part time mother to three quarters of everyone else's! It is said that it takes a village to raise a child, but Jane raised the entire village at one point or another. Everyone was welcome in her home and nobody went hungry, unattended, or un-scolded when necessary. She was a tremendous friend in a crisis, and was always there to help those who needed it. She had a passion for family and its lineage, antiques, sewing, attending to others needs, good food, and good conversation with good friends. She will be dearly missed by scores outside of her large extended family.

Funeral arrangements will consist of a family graveside service at 10:00 am Thursday, June 17th at Pine Crest Cemetery on Dauphin Island Parkway in Mobile, Alabama. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to a very special cause that became dear to Jane’s heart and the hearts of her family in her final months. Jane‘s amazing, selfless and dedicated caregiver Dana Marston Haas is in the process of following her life-long dream of establishing a charitable foundation to help make her services readily available to families in need of hospice and home health related services. Considering the indispensable role that Dana played in Jane’s care along with the unparalleled comfort and reassurance she brought to the whole family, Jane and the family would love nothing more than to help make the world a better place by putting Dana and others like her in the homes of families with ailing loved ones. Donations can be in the form of Checks to Dana Marston Haas and will be held in trust until her foundation has completed the process of formation, and can be sent to:

Dana Marston Haas

C/O Berkley DeLaney

6113 Saddle Wood ln

Fairhope, AL 36532

Alternatively, donations can be made in Jane’s honor to the charity of one’s choice.