Jane McCulloch Blair

Jane McCulloch Blair died peacefully at home on Saturday, July 13, 2013 after a very brief illness. She was born May 24, 1922 in Elizabethtown, NC the daughter of Elizabethtown City Attorney and Bladen Co. State Senator E. F. McCulloch and Jessie Lee Sugg McCulloch, former Publisher and Editor of the Bladen Journal. She graduated from Elizabethtown High School and attended the former Woman's College of the University of NC in Greensboro, now UNC-G. Jane was devoted to her family and especially delighted in her grandchildren and their accomplishments. Her grandchildren, Ben and Blakeney, loved to visit "Oma" and loved the special treats she would cook for them. She was a past member of the United Methodist Women's organization and assisted for many years with the Altar Guild and communion service. She also was a past member of the D.A.R. Foremost among her passions and talents were gardening and golfing. Jane especially loved to transplant flowers and plants from her childhood home to her yard in Siler City. She was an active member of the Ladies Golf Association at Siler City Country Club for many years and relished participating in golf tournaments across the state. Jane was thrilled when she hit her first hole-in-one. She was also an ardent supporter of the UNC-CH Tar Heels and avidly followed Carolina football and basketball. She is survived by her cherished family, daughter, Janet Lee Blair, grandson, Benjamin Mott Gallahan, and granddaughter, Blakeney McCulloch Gallahan of Atlanta, GA; sister, the Rev. Lillian McCulloch Taylor of Cary, NC and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Dr. Mott P. Blair III; son-in-law Ronald N. Gallahan; sisters, Catharine Clark Strand, Julia Clark Calhoun, and Nancy McCulloch Bridger; brothers Edgar F. McCulloch III and Norman B. McCulloch; and nephews Austin Strand and Bruce McCulloch. A graveside memorial service will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Siler City on Friday July 19 at 11am with Rev. Clyde Denny and Rev. Dr. Frances Taylor Gench officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to either First United Methodist Church of Siler City or to the NC Arts Incubator in Siler City. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com