Mrs. Jane Seddon Willson

Jane Seddon Willson, 92, of Albany, GA, died Tuesday, November 3, 2015. Her funeral service will be at 10 AM on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church. The Rev. Dr. Don Adams will officiate. Mrs. Willson’s burial service will be at 4 PM on Saturday at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, GA. The Rev. David Wagner of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta will officiate. The Willson Family invites all family and friends to attend either or both funeral and burial services as their schedules allow. The family will receive friends on Friday from 5-7 PM at Jane Willson’s home at 1801 Oak Glen Ln, Albany, GA 31707. Jane Seddon Willson was born in New York City. She and her late husband, William Harry Willson moved to Albany in 1951. Mrs. Willson was a graduate of Emma Willard School in 1941, and graduated from Wellesley College in 1945. She and Harry Willson met on a train when they both were returning to college in the Boston area. They were married in 1946. She was President of Sunnyland Farms, a highly successful company selling food products by mail, which she and her late husband founded in 1948. She is a past President and served on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Albany. She was Albany’s Woman of the Year in 1983, in 2001 she received the Emma Willard School lifetime achievement award. The Girl Scouts of Southwest Georgia recognized her as their 2004 Woman of Distinction, and in 2006, she and Harry Willson were listed in the YMCA Book of Honors. Many buildings in Georgia are named in her honor, namely the Willson Hospice House, and the Jane Willson Unit of the Boys and Girl Clubs of Albany. Mrs. Willson was the first woman to serve on the Board of Directors of Bellsouth Telecommunications. She served on the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Opera, Inc. since 1988. Mrs. Willson co-chaired a major capital campaign in 1992 for Theater Albany, Inc. Her presentation to the Woodruff Foundation helped the campaign exceed its goal. She was a member of the Board and Past President of the Albany Museum of Art. Because of her efforts, the Albany Museum of Art is now one of five or six museums in Georgia which are accredited, and is the smallest. Mrs. Willson was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from the University of Georgia in 2006. In the same year, she was honored as a Friend of UGA Alumni. She served as a trustee of the University of Georgia Foundation from 1990-2012. She has also served on the Boards of Darton College, Albany Technical College, and Albany State University. Mrs. Willson was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Albany since 1954. She was a Sunday School teacher, served on the Administrative Board, and on the Finance Committee. Mrs. Willson is survived by her four children: Bill and Susan Willson, Atlanta, GA, Larry and Beverly Willson, Albany, GA, Arthur Willson and Jane Foster, Philadelphia, PA, Jane Willson and Malcolm MacDonald, Madera, CA; five grandchildren and their spouses: Hank Willson and Deb Thrope, San Francisco, CA, Alex and Staci Willson, Albany, GA, Charlie and Emily Willson, Washington, DC, Justin and Alexandra Willson, Princeton, NJ, and Isabelle Willson and Mark Bender, Washington, DC; 3 great granddaughters: Sophie Willson, Maria Willson, and Eila Willson. Those desiring may send memorials to the Boys and Girls Club of Albany, Inc., 711 N. Monroe St., Albany, GA 31701.

Mrs. Jane Seddon Willson

October 20, 1923 - November 3, 2015