Jane Emling

Born in Baton Rouge, LA, 95 years ago to the late Captain Charles Biederman and Johnnye Porter Biederman, she grew up in New Orleans, LA, and graduated from Newcomb College of Tulane University with a degree in Social Work. At Newcomb, she was secretary-treasurer of the Senior Class, on the yearbook staff, and first vice-president of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She married Edward L.

Emling in New Orleans, November 1949. After living in New Jersey, Illinois and the New Orleans area, Jane and Ed moved to Jackson in 1964 with their 4 children. In Jackson, Jane was active in the Girl Scouts, the Review Club, Pleiades Club, the Women's Foundation, and the River Hills Club where she played tennis several times a week until her late 80's. She began working for Hinds County in the Child Welfare Department in 1968 and retired as the Director of Family and Children Services in the Mississippi Department of Human Services in 1992. She served one term as President of the Mississippi Conference on Social Welfare.

Jane was a board member for the Middle Mississippi Girl Scout Council and the United Way of Jackson and volunteered at the Mississippi Museum of Art and the Craftsmen's Guild. After her husband's death in 2009, she joined Galloway United Methodist Church and was very active in the Heritage Sunday School Class, the UMW, the Library Guild, and Stephen Ministry. She was also predeceased by her brother, Charles Biederman, Jr. and sister, Mary Keck. She is survived by her children, Lee Harding (Richard), Ward Emling (Karen Gilder), John Emling (Brenda) and Mary Jane Hyer. She had 5 grandchildren, Elizabeth Foster (Mike), Will Harding (Malinda), Jesse Emling, Maggie White (Dylan), Mary Lee Hyer, and 5 great-grandchildren, Jack, Audrey, and Ella Harding, Rebecca Foster, and Nora Jane White. She also loved her many nieces and nephews. The family would like to especially thank her dedicated caregiver Geraldine Morrow.

Visitation will be Wednesday, February 15, from 9:30-11 a.m. in The Parlor, Galloway UMC, followed by a Service of Resurrection at 11 a.m. in the church sanctuary.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Galloway UMC, 305 North Congress St. Jackson, MS 39201, the Middle Mississippi Girl Scout Council 1471 West County Line Rd. Jackson, MS 39213, or a charity of your choice.