Jane Hughes

Clara “Jane” Hughes, MSW, died peacefully at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital on December 26, 2022. Jane was born in Attala, Alabama on March 25, 1944 to the late Mr. Samuel Edwin “Red” Gibson and Cecelia May Moore Gibson. She was raised in Gadsden, AL and graduated from Gadsden High in 1962. She attended Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, FL where she met her first husband George “Barry” Barrett Bierman and started a family with two children, Glen Barrett Bierman and Margaret “Paige” Bierman Saunders. Jane later went back to college to earn her Bachelor of Science in Social Work from University of Alabama Birmingham. She went on to earn a Masters in Social Work with an emphasis in Gerontology and Counseling from Troy University. After completing school and moving to Montgomery, AL, she met her late husband Robert “Bobby” Hughes. While in Montgomery, she was employed as a hospice social worker by the Counsel of Aging. Approximately 20 years ago, Jane moved to Thomasville, Georgia to be close to her son Glen, daughter Paige, son-in-law David Saunders M.D. and five grandchildren where she remained very active in their lives and the local community until her passing.

Jane was a deeply caring and compassionate person with a devotion to social work and a love for animals. Her favorite pastime was caring for her horses and her 3 dogs Pixie, Lulu, and Gibson. Jane had a real talent and passion for painting and even had a collection of rocks.

As the second oldest of five sisters, Jane remained very close to her siblings Susan, Mary, Henrietta, and Margaret. Whenever possible, Jane took great joy in visiting them in Alabama or a girls’ trip to Biloxi. As an avid dog lover, Jane met a close group of friends at the Thomasville Dog Park with whom she enjoyed a variety of social outings.

Jane was also a devoted mother and grandmother, and her family meant the world to her. She had a witty sense of humor and a captivating personality that drew people to her. She was known for seeing the positive in everyone. She will be deeply missed, but her memory will live on through the countless lives she touched and the love she shared.

Jane Hughes is survived by her daughter Paige (David) Saunders, her son Glen Bierman, her sisters Mary (Richard) Wood of Trussville, AL, Henrietta Wills of Mobile, AL, and Margaret (buddy) Nick of Brookwood, AL, her five grandchildren Andrew, Scott, Will, Patrick, and Mary Kate Saunders of Thomasville, GA, her six nieces and five nephews as well as her three dogs Pixie, Lulu, and Gibson. She was preceded in death by her sister Susan (Ben) Dreading of Fairhope, AL.

Funeral services will be held at Allen and Allen Funeral Home on Friday, Dec. 30 at 2:00 p.m. Family and friends are invited to The Saunders home after the services. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation to Miss Kitty’s Feline Sanctuary or Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society.