Jane Kerr

Kerr, Jane Robbins

Born in Mississippi in 1933, Jane Robbins Kerr dropped the mic and left this Earth for another party on January 22, 2026. She was named Jane, the feminine form of the name John, with no middle name. Her parents, Hartwell and Iva, were clearly not purveyors of individuality naming their children, as they named their son, John, with no middle name, a mere 17 months later. While her given name may have lacked in originality, Jane was truly one of a kind. Jane's Baptist upbringing in Jackson, Mississippi set the script for the early part of her life, but her rebellious spirit resulted in her flipping that script in her later years.

Poindexter, Enochs, Central, and "The W" (MUW) shaped her academically and gave her friends for life. Upon college graduation, Jane was ready to be free of Mississippi and set out for Houston with a job as the personal mathematician for the president of a major oil company. She lasted in that job until her boss asked her to clean his private toilet. She packed up her belongings and spunky attitude to move to Atlanta, where she would become a flight attendant for Delta and eventually meet her husband. She flew for Delta until marriage forced her to quit. The marriage eventually failed, but gave her what she always said was the best thing about it - her two daughters, Ellen and Leslie.

Jane was never one to suffer fools gladly. When she was called dumb, she promptly took an IQ test that led her to qualify for and join Mensa. Jane returned to the workforce as a real estate agent in the early 1970s when an acquaintance, who she didn't think was very bright, told her she was selling real estate. That conversation spurred Jane to take the real estate licensing exam, and she became an agent, eventually earning her broker's license as well. She would spend the next 25 years selling real estate for Royer Realty, Harry Norman Realtors, and Buckhead Brokers until she took down her shingle for the last time in the late 1990s.

After retirement, Jane's persistent and rebellious soul demanded to be let loose, and she was finally able to break free of the expectations her early life scripted for her. Jane went on to create a carnival of life filled with writing, painting, photography, world travel, a rekindled relationship from college, and enduring friendships. She took writing and painting workshops and classes all over the US, traveled extensively, and made friends from all corners of the world and all walks of life. Her travels took her to far away lands like Siberia, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, Morocco, and Tanzania, among others, and opened her mind to other cultures and religions, including Buddhism. One of her daughters was once mortified when Jane recognized and walked up to Robert Thurman, the renowned Buddhist scholar and father of Uma, to introduce herself and talk about how much she admired his work while he was enjoying his dinner in New York City.

Jane was a demon on four wheels. Motorists and pedestrians breathed a sigh of relief when she voluntarily gave up driving at the age of 89. She always loved to hit the road and "see things," whether it was to the backroads of the Mississippi Delta to photograph juke joints and crumbling tobacco barns, to the scenic, rural roads of New Mexico, where she could take in the wide-open blue skies, on the bumpy, dusty roads of foreign lands, or simply to take her schnauzer on his daily car ride.

Jane had no filter and always did things as she "darn well pleased." Thoughts and sayings would blurt out of her mouth to the surprise and, sometimes, amusement of others. She was never afraid to stick out her tongue to something she didn't like (even pre-dementia,) and turn a phrase that would tell you exactly what she thought of something or where you stood with her. "You're a good egg," or, "That's the greatest thing since sliced bread," were frequent favorites in her later years.

Jane loved her daily glass of Chardonnay, NYT crossword puzzles, her mini schnauzers, Derby Hills, calla lilies, picking up sticks in her yard, talking politics (only if you were a Democrat,) eating a good cheeseburger, striking up conversations with strangers, making silly faces at babies, reruns of Law & Order and The Nanny, twangy country and bluegrass music, and entertaining friends and family.

Even though life called her away to the hustle and bustle of Houston and then Atlanta, Mississippi was always whispering in her ear, calling her to what was always and truly her home. Her strong Mississippi drawl stayed with her throughout her life. It was endearing to most and off-putting to those who were less versed in Southern culture. She could turn a two-syllable word into one with four or five. People often tried to imitate her accent and always failed, as it was as unique as Jane was.

Jane is survived by her daughter, Leslie Kerr Caulfield; son-in-law, James; and beloved grandson, Patrick, of Bethesda, MD. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Ellen Leigh Kerr; father, Dr. Hartwell Robbins; mother, Iva Ball Robbins; brother, John Robbins; half-sister, Emma "Polly" Wilson; and four schnauzers - Fritz, Otis, Humphrey, and Ridley. A special thank you goes out to Shirley Moffett, who was an amazing friend and caregiver to Jane in her later years.

Jane always loved a party and wanted one for her sendoff from this Earth. For those who knew and loved Jane, and even for those who didn't really "get" her but liked her anyway, you are invited to join her daughter, Leslie, and her family to drop by to swap stories about Jane, see her artwork, and raise a glass in her memory on Saturday, March 21, 2026 from 3-6pm at Spalding Nix Gallery at The Galleries of Peachtree Hills, 425 Peachtree Hills Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30305 in Building 5.

If you feel like remembering Jane in any way, then please consider a donation in her name to PAWS Atlanta, 5287 Covington Highway, Decatur, GA 30035 or MOCA GA (Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia), 75 Bennett St., NW, Atlanta, GA 30309 https://64863.blackbaudhosting.com/64863/In-Honor-of-or-in-Memory-of