Jennie Mae Smith McEntire

Jennie Mae (Jane) McEntire, 87, of Athens, passed away on January 19, 2011 at St. Mary’s Hospice. She was born on July 27, 1923 in Murray County, Georgia. She is the daughter of the late Luther Colonel Smith and Jennie (Mary Jane) Wilbanks Smith.

She graduated from the Herrin School of Business in 1941. After moving to Athens in 1946, she was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker for 20 years before beginning her career as the first elementary school secretary at Whitehead Road Elementary School in Athens, where she remained until her retirement 22 years later. It was through this position that she touched the lives of not only her own children and grandchildren, but also the thousands of families whose children matriculated through the halls of Whitehead Road.

She was a member of Chapelwood United Methodist Church and a former member of Young Harris Memorial United Methodist Church. She is survived by her husband, James F.(Fred) McEntire, Sr.; her children, James F. McEntire, Jr. (Sherri), Janet McEntire Swanson, and Thomas C. McEntire (Missy); her grandchildren, Nathan Swanson (Renee), Ben Swanson (Rachel), John Swanson (Corey), Jeff McEntire (Marisa), Rebecca McEntire, Beth McEntire Kalombo (Gilbert), Suzanne Mikawa Kirkpatrick and Bryan McEntire. She is also survived by her sister, Buna Ann Smith Pirkle, 15 great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made either to Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Athens or to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Funeral services will be held at Bernstein’s Funeral Home in Athens, Georgia on Friday, January 21, 2011 at 4:00 pm. Visitation will immediately precede the service from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Burial will be in Chatsworth, Georgia at the Sumach Cumberland Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 11:00 am.

Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com

Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.