Jane Wilkins Thrailkill

Jane Wilkins Thrailkill

November 27, 1927 - March 11, 2015

Durham, NC

Jane Wilkins Thrailkill, antique importer and small businesswoman, died last year at Duke University Hospital. Born in Sanford, Jane graduated from Duke with a degree in Economics, and was a member of Delta Delta Delta Fraternity. She subsequently attended Somerville College at Oxford University.

Jane was the eldest child and only daughter of Olive (née Pittman) of Swansboro, NC and Alexander Betts Wilkins, Sr. of Sanford, NC. She grew up a "southern Eloise," as a child roaming in Sanford's elegant Wilrik Hotel owned by her parents; she also had free run of the family peach orchard.

She married David Herbert Thrailkill in 1950, and they moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Jane and Dave later settled in Connecticut and raised three children: Elsbeth Miller (now of Chicago, IL), David A. Thrailkill (of Sausalito, CA), and Jane F. Thrailkill (of Chapel Hill, NC). In the course of sixty years of marriage Jane and Dave owned residences in Wilton, CT; Fire Island, NY; London, England; Antigua, Guatemala; Chester, VT; and Wilmington, NC.

Despite her Southern roots, Jane lived most of her life in the North. She shuttled her children to New England ski slopes and Fire Island beaches. A skilled accountant with an eye for antique furniture, Jane founded 1828 House Antiques in Vermont and, with Dave happily in tow, embarked on annual buying trips to England, scouring the English countryside in search of inventory.

Jane enjoyed retirement amongst her beloved North Carolina family: her brothers, the late Alex Wilkins of Charlotte and Dr. Lucien Wilkins of Wilmington and Boone; her sister-in-law, the late Freda Wilkins; nieces Beth Hardison (and husband Chris) and Elise Wilson (and husband Joel); and nephew Sandy Wilkins. After Dave passed away in 2011, Jane retired to Durham, steps away from her old dorm on Duke's East Campus.

She was known for her wit and straight-talking charm, love of luxury and passion for politics. A former member of the League of Women Voters, Jane was a lifelong Democrat, and proudly cast her final vote for President Barack Obama.

She is survived by her three children, their spouses (Hawley Truax and B.J. Thrailkill), and six grandchildren: Naomi and Olivia Truax; Alex and Molly Thrailkill; and Morgan Aykroid and David Miller.