Jane Elizabeth Owens Griffin, 74, of Beaumont, Texas, and formerly of Jena, died Monday, July 13, 2015. She was born in Jasper, Texas on February 23, 1941, to Reverend J. P. Owens and Louise Nichols Owens. The family moved to Jena later when Rev. Owens became pastor at Jena First Baptist Church. Jane attended school in Jena where she excelled in academics and sports. She participated in band throughout junior high and high school; she was on Homecoming Court her sophomore year; and Drum Major during her Junior and Senior years. She was one of the team members who the famous “Jelly” Pigottt coached to STATE Champions. She was chosen first team All State Basketball in her senior year. She was an academic scholar and represented JHS in state academic competition every year before graduating as Co-Valedictorian of the JHS class of 1959. One of her best high school friends gave this description of her: “She was our Drum Major who led our band down the football field in a style and showmanship that was all her own. She flashed that big smile of hers in confident, graceful leadership that demanded attention and drew cheers from spectators. She played basketball in that same kind of style and confident skill. She was a born leader, who could talk anybody into anything…she was always the instigator who led us down the avenues of our youth.” Jane was a beautiful lady with a great smile and many accomplishments. She attended Baylor University and Lamar University, graduating with a Bachelors and Masters Degree, respectively. She began her career at Nederland Independent School District as a science teacher; and was later promoted to Coordinator of Curriculum for grades 7-12; she was the Coordinator for the Challenge Program, the program for the Gifted and Talented students; and she initiated the Safe and Drug Free Schools Program. She was involved with numerous extracurricular activities, including TNT (Terrific Nederland Teens) and chaperoned trips for Ned & Company and The German Club. She retired after 40 years with the Nederland Independent School District. She loved to travel…she traveled to many distant corners of the world, including remote areas of China, some of which are probably off limits today. She brought back beautiful memories and artifacts from those trips. Jane truly loved her family and friends and will be greatly missed. She was there to love and care for her grandchildren through some very difficult times and serious illnesses. She will also be remembered for her tenacious spirit, quick wit, a love of all dogs, and her deep faith. She was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Nederland, where her father, Reverend J.P. Owens had served as pastor. She was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her daughter, Tracey Manchac of Beaumont; son, Mike Mc- Collum and his wife, Tracey, of Reno, Nevada; grandchildren, Sara and Jacob Wills, Bryan LaCroix, Marisa Manchac, Wendy McElroy, and Justin and Nicholas McCollum; great-granddaughter, Emma McElroy; sister, Diann Dotson and her husband Ray, of Jena; and brother, Judge Jerome P. Owens, Jr. and his wife Marilyn, of Woodville, and several nieces and nephews. A gathering of Ms. Griffin’s family and friends was held on Sunday, July 19, 2015 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Broussard’s in Nederland, Texas. Her funeral was held at Broussard’s at 10 a.m. on July 20, 2015 followed by her graveside service at 2 p.m. at Antioch Cemetery, Buna, Texas.
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