Jane M Thrash

   Jane McSwain Thrash, age 83, of Auburn, Alabama, passed away peacefully on September 30, 2025, at her home.  Jane was being lovingly cared for by her husband, daughters, and angels from Hospice during an extended illness.

   Jane grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, in a Gold Star family, in the years following WWII.  She met her future husband at Robert E Lee High School and they married immediately following her graduation from Howard College (Samford University, Birmingham}, in 1963.

    Jane became a permanent resident of Auburn in 1970 when her husband’s job made it possible for them to return to the area; they had previously lived here in 1963-64 before her husband was graduated from Auburn University.

    Jane returned to teaching in the early 1970’s. She taught in various area schools until her priorities shifted to raising three daughters.  In 1986, with the daughters leaving for college, Jane created Heartstrings of Auburn, a gift shop on N. College Street in downtown Auburn.  For the next twenty-three years, this business provided employment for more than two hundred young women who were working their way through a college education.  In 2009, her priorities shifted again, this time to her grandchildren, and Heartstrings closed its’ doors for a final time.

     Jane was a strong supporter of the Auburn community and was  founder of the Lee County Mother’s of Twins Club in 1971,  co-founder of Project Graduation at Auburn High School in 1989, and served on Mayor Dempsey’s Committee of 2000,  a Lifesaver’s Christian Ministries board member for many years, and a faithful member of the Women’s Club of Auburn (appointed a Life Member in 2025).

   Jane was most proud to be a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.  She was blessed with and survived by three wonderful children:  Alicia Storbeck (James), Amy Padgett (Scott), and Holly Thrash Keel.

    Jane is survived by her husband of sixty-two years, Ed L. Thrash, Jr.: high school sweethearts who shared over sixty-seven years as best friends; and one brother, Don McSwain, Fayetteville, Ga.

     In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her honor to one of the organizations providing emotional and financial support to Gold Star families.

Wounded Warrior Project  (support.woundedwarriorproject.org)

Tunnels to Towers (t2t.org)

      Visitation at Jeffcoat-Trant will be on Thursday, October 2, 2025 from 11:30-1:00 followed by a quiet graveside service at Town Creek.