Jane MacDonald Hatcher

Jane
MacDonald Hatcher

August 8, 2016
Penland, NC- Jane MacDonald Hatcher died peacefully at her home in Penland, North Carolina on August 8, 2016, with her friends Mary Anglin, Nita Ford and Jo Frayne present and surrounded by her art and by flowers from her beautiful garden. Jane, known to many childhood friends as "Tita", lived most of her adult life in the mountains of western North Carolina.
Jane was the daughter of Susie MacDonald Fox Hatcher and James Madden Hatcher, who predeceased her. She was survived by her brother, James Madden Hatcher, Jr., and his wife, Sally B. Hatcher, by her sister Sue Mac Hatcher Warnock, and her husband, John P. Warnock, and by her brother Samuel Fox Hatcher, and his wife, Leslie L. Hatcher. In addition, she was survived by the following nieces and nephews: James Madden Hatcher, III, Neill Bickerstaff Hatcher, Richard Respess Hatcher, Sara Hatcher Dismuke, Walter F. Eggers, III, Jane Branson Eggers, Eleanor Vincent Hatcher, Mary Stillwell ("Maggie") Hatcher - Dewey, SueMac Fox ("Tilly") Hatcher, and Samuel Lennard Hatcher. She was also survived by her very dear cousin, Sue Boykin Henson.
Jane, named for her mother's sister, Jane Branson Fox Gunnels, was born in Columbus, Georgia and graduated from Columbus High School where she made many friends that lasted a lifetime. She then attended Sweet Briar College, Lynchburg, Virginia, where she received her degree in history in 1961. During her junior year at Sweet Briar she was a St. Andrews Scholar and attended St. Andrews University in St. Andrews, Scotland. While at Sweet Briar she was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa and was an Emily Watts McVae Scholar.
Jane was Queen of the St. Francis Hospital Auxiliary Mardi Gras Ball in 1961.
After graduation from Sweet Briar College, Jane began her career in education and obtained a Masters degree from Emory University. Thereafter, she taught in the Atlanta public schools until she moved to North Carolina after taking a course in pottery at the Penland School of Crafts. She had a deft touch with clay and became a nationally recognized potter. Her wonderful pots grace the tables and homes of many people throughout the South.
Jane's strong spirit and passion led her to also become an expert massage therapist and yoga practitioner and teacher. She developed many lifelong friendships in the Penland community and loved her family, friends, home, garden, art, and walks and drives in the North Carolina mountains.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Penland, North Carolina.