Jean Willis Overby

Jean Willis Overby of Calhoun, GA passed away peacefully at Morning Pointe Senior Living on January 22, 2023 from complications due to Parkinson’s disease.

 

Jean was born on October 18, 1941 in Vicksburg, MS. Her family moved to Savannah, GA, where she graduated from Savannah High School in 1959 as one of the valedictorians. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina in 1963, where she majored in biology, was president of the Beta Epsilon chapter of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She and her husband Enoch married on December 21, 1963. They lived in New Orleans, LA; Cornwall, NY; and Wilmington, DE before settling in Calhoun in 1972. In Calhoun, Jean raised her children, worked in the family law practice, and was a dedicated community member and volunteer.

 

Jean was deeply involved in education in Calhoun and Gordon County. She was elected to three terms on the Calhoun City School Board, she served as president of the Calhoun-Gordon Council for a Literate Community, and she was a member of the Calhoun-Gordon County Library Board. Her children (Debbie, Walter, and Eric) each graduated from Calhoun High School and attended Southern Methodist University, Duke University, and the University of Georgia on academic scholarships. Jean invested in her own education by taking accounting classes at Dalton State College where she was a top student, winning a scholarship for further study at Kennesaw State University.

 

Jean loved music and was an active member of the Calhoun First United Methodist Church, where she led children’s and youth choirs and directed or assisted with children’s musicals such as Angels Aware! and The Late Great Potentate. She was a member of the church choir and the Joanne Owens Covenant Sunday School class. She was a charter member of the Heart & Soul women’s singing group and worked with King’s Cooks. She served as president of the Calhoun Women’s Club and helped found the annual Sequoyah Ball.

 

Jean was a gifted cook. When asked about her culinary skills, she pointed out that it helped that her husband was such an “appreciative eater” (as were most of the people she fed). She enjoyed playing bridge and loved animals, typically having 2-3 cats and dogs as pets at any given time. 

 

She is survived by her husband Enoch Overby of Calhoun, GA: her sister Susan Brant and brother-in-law Jim Brant of Columbia, SC; her aunt Bess Clark Aaron of Columbia, SC; her brother-in-law Danny Overby of Durham, NC; her daughter Debbie Kirby and son-in-law Glenn Kirby of Dallas, TX; her son Walter Gibson Overby and daughter-in-law Katie Gibson Overby of Des Moines, IA; her son Eric Overby and daughter-in-law Jenn Overby of Atlanta, GA; her grandchildren Adam Kirby, Brian Kirby, Will Overby, Graham Overby, Aaron Overby, Ellis Gibson Overby, and Gwendolyn Gibson Overby; and cousins, nieces, and nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents George Addison Willis and Eloise Clark Willis.

 

Jean’s family would like to extend special thanks to Kay Pope, Lorena Lopez, and the staffs at Morning Pointe Senior Living and Trinity Hospice for their help and support over the last few years.

 

The family will hold a celebration of life service for friends and family, to be followed by a reception, on March 25 at 1pm at the Calhoun First United Methodist Church.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made to the Calhoun First United Methodist Church or their charity of choice.

 

You may leave the family online condolences at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com

 

Thomas Funeral Home has proudly been entrusted with the care of Jean Willis Overby.