Jeane Elise Lewis Littleton

Jeane Elise Lewis Littleton was born March 2, 1923 in Bessemer, Alabama and was a member of the 1942 graduation class of McAdory School. She married William Robert "Billy" Littleton on June 20, 1943 at Camp Breckinridge in Kentucky and remained married 70 years. While Billy served honorably in WWII, Jeane worked for the draft board and bought and paid for their first home in Bessemer. She worked for US Pipe and Foundry. She also held several positions as an executive legal secretary. Jeane was a member of Jonesboro United Methodist Church. After marriage she transferred her membership to First Christian Church in Bessemer where Jeane and Billy remained active, lifelong members. They enjoyed many years as members of The Club. Jeane held memberships in several china painting and art guilds and was a member of Hoover Service Club. As a young woman, Jeane sang at weddings and other public events. She and Billy enjoyed square dancing. They played bridge monthly with the Ammons family of McCalla. Jeane studied landscaping and opened Jeane's Nursery in Bessemer in the 1940's. They spent many happy summers at their cabin on the Warrior River. She and Billy formed Littleton's Stamp Vending Company. At the age of 50, Jeane studied the banjo and performed publicly as a band member. At the age of 54, she enrolled at UAB as a freshman. Jeane was fortunate to have traveled extensively, having toured every state in the US (except South Dakota) including the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska. She also traveled all the Canadian provinces, Mexico, most European countries, plus several Central and South American countries and Caribbean countries. Jeane was a talented and prolific artist in china painting and porcelain lace draping. She received several purchase awards and was featured in newspaper articles due to her artistic talent. Family was Jeane's foremost love. She wanted to pass down family lore and geneaolgy to her own descendants whom she loved more than anything. She and her daughter, Lisa, self-published, "The Riggins Register", a genealogical booklet documenting 2000 descendants of Littleton Riggins, Jeane's ancestor who was a very early settler of Bibb County, Alabama. A kind and loving wife, mother, and grandmother, Jeane is survived by her only child, Elise "Lisa" Littleton (Robert) Powers, three grandchildren, Jennifer Elise Powers of Hoover, Ryan Michael Powers of Sacramento, California and William Robert "Robby" (Kelly) Powers of Orlando, Florida and great grandchildren, Karley E. Powers, Keegan M. Powers and Audrey F. Powers of Orlando, Florida. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews, including Oudia (Thomas) Chapman and Gerald (Pat) Clarke of Birmingham. Jeane was preceded in death by her husband, W. R. Billy Littleton, parents, Willie Milligan and Era Annie (Riggins) Lewis, sisters, Lola Mae Lewis (Clarke), Elsie Olga Lewis (Martin) and brother, Willie Melford Lewis and grandparents, Rev. Lorenzo Dow and Indiana Alabama (Culpepper) Lewis and Mose Ferdinand and Mary Etta (Morris) Riggins. The family wishes to thank Mrs. Norma Whitlow and Mrs. Dot McAteer for the three years spent providing loving care for Jeane, her family and her cats and also, Hospice services. Funeral services will be Friday, February 13, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Bessemer Brown Service Funeral Home with burial at Valhalla cemetery. Dr. Tom L. Nash, PHD will be officiating. The family will receive friends Friday from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to www.bessemerbrownfh.com.

Jeane Elise Lewis Littleton

March 2, 1923 - February 7, 2015