Jane Briggs Rankin

Jane Briggs Rankin, 78, September 4, 2018.  Daughter of the late Parkin Briggs and Charlene Thompson Briggs.  Wife of Donald Rankin, mother of Christopher, Timothy and Benjamin.  Grandmother of Eddie, Spencer, Will, Katie and Grace.  Mother-in-law of Anne, Sharon and Sasha.  Sister to the late Betty Hamilton and Barbara Stockton.

Born in Caribou, Maine on February 9, 1940, Jane graduated from Caribou High School, received her Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory, her Master of Music from Converse College and performed doctoral work at Boston University.  She taught at Spelman College in Atlanta from 1963-1967.  She later taught in the North Kingstown public schools, at New England Music Camp and as an adjunct professor at URI.  She was a leader of the RI Music Teachers Association.  She was also a past president of the Chopin Club, a past president of the Henschel Club and a past vice president and honorary member of the Chaminade Club.  She served as president of the Warwick Council PTA and was active in the League of Women Voters.  She was organist/choir director at St. Barnabas Church in Warwick, then later at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cranston.  She has recently been active at First Baptist Church in East Greenwich.

Jane loved reading (3 book clubs), playing bridge, playing piano duets with her husband, and helping those less fortunate.

Funeral Service Saturday, September 8 ^th at 11:00am at the First Baptist Church, 35 Peirce St., East Greenwich.  Visitation:  Friday, September 7 ^th 5-8pm at THE CHURCH.  In her honor, donations may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center (splcenter.org, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL, 36104) or to the First Baptist Church.