Jane Chaney
Born August 19, 1938 in Chester, South CarolinaDeparted September 27, 2023 in Melbourne, Florida
Jane Elliott Chaney, 85, of Indian Harbour Beach, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. Born in Chester, South Carolina, she graduated from Rock Hill High School; she received her Bachelor and Master’s degrees from Duke University and doctorate from Florida Atlantic. She retired from Brevard County School District in 1995 as principal of Palm Bay High School.
She lived most of her life in Florida moving to the state after college graduation to take her first job in education. She was a dedicated teacher as evidenced by her receiving Brevard County’s first Teacher of the Year Award for 1969-70 while she was a math teacher at Merritt Island High School. She held many administrative positions in Brevard’s public schools as well as in the district office. In every job Jane remained a teacher at heart as seen through her mentoring, encouragement and advocacy for students, teachers and administrators.
Jane had a passion for travel and the arts that she shared with friends and family. She traveled across the United States and internationally with a special group of friends who were also educators. Her generosity afforded her nieces and nephews opportunities to travel with her as well.
Preceded in death by her parents, Henry Gibson and Evelyn Hamiter Chaney, and her sister Eva Gwen Benoy; Jane is survived by sister, Karen C. Jones, 3 nephews and 3 nieces, 3 great-nieces and 1 great-nephew, and her lifelong friend, Martha L. Kamm.
Her family wishes to express sincere gratitude to her doctors, Dr. Solomon Zimm and Dr. James Ronaldson and their staffs, for the care and support they provided Jane over the years.
A celebration of life service will be held October 21, 2023, 11 am, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 106 North Riverside Drive, Indialantic, Florida. Online condolences may be made to the family at the Brownlie-Maxwell Funereal Home website, www.brownliemaxwell.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Eastminster Presbyterian Church.
