Jane Freeborough Hamner

Jane Freeborough Hamner died October 24, 2023, in Raleigh. She was born in San Antonio, Texas, on November 18, 1929, and grew up in Austin, TX. She graduated from University of Texas at Austin in chemistry where she also met her future husband, then chemistry doctoral student, William F. Hamner. Jane and Bill married in Austin in 1949. They built a house and had four children in Texas City, TX, before relocating to Raleigh in November 1963. In the late 1960s Jane was active in Wake County politics, particularly the League of Women Voters of Wake County, for which she served as President from 1971-1973. Mayor Tom Bradshaw awarded Jane a Key to the City of Raleigh in December 1973 in recognition of her collaborative work toward registering and advocating for women voters in Wake County. In the early 1970s Jane also earned her certificate for teaching mathematics from NCSU. She taught mathematics at Neal Junior High beginning in 1974. In 1981 she was awarded the first stage of the National Teacher Award, that “highest personal honor in the initial selection by one’s own peers,” an honor that “speaks to one’s commitment to teaching on a day-to-day basis” (quotes from the award letter). At the end of her career, she taught computer science and mathematics at Southern High in Durham, NC, until she retired in 1992.

After retirement, Jane enjoyed traveling the world with Bill, spending time with her grandchildren, learning Spanish, and building a passive solar home with Bill. She was a decades-long active member of Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church and loved her spiritual community there. She was an avid gardener, passionate especially for native grasses and wildflowers, and a devoted bird lover who set out multiple feeders daily. In her later years, she went on many walks guided by her son, Rick, to spot eagles, herons, egrets, and other beloved birds. Jane was an elegant, feisty, and deeply faithful woman; a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother; and a friend to everyone who crossed her path. She is survived by her four children, William F. Hamner of Raleigh, Dr. Mark B. Hamner and wife, Susan, of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Claire Roden and husband, Greg, of Eden Prairie, MN, and Dr. Gail Hamner and husband, Dr. Dan Bingham, of Syracuse, NY, ten grandchildren, three grandchildren-in-law, and four great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, 4921 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, on Sunday, November 5, 2023.

Memorials may be made to Hudson, to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology or to the charity of one’s choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared for the Hamner family by clicking "add a memory" below.