Jane Liles Burns

Jane Liles Burns, of Raleigh, North Carolina, beloved mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, passed away on January 12, 2021, at the age of 79, from complications of Covid-19. Jane was born in Raleigh, but spent most of her early life living as an Army “brat” in five different states, including Anchorage, Alaska, as well as, Vienna and Salzburg, Austria, in Europe. After returning to Raleigh as a teenager, Jane graduated from Fayetteville High School, and then attended Woman’s College in Greensboro. To continue her education, she moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where she received a degree in Journalism from the University of Louisville. She remained in Louisville until 2013, when she returned to Raleigh with her daughter, Diane, to be closer to family. Although Jane’s study of journalism enhanced her ability to be wonderfully creative in her writing, it was not the writing that defined her and shaped her whole personality and being. Jane’s passion was art. Her legacy was being a talented, unbelievably creative, and accomplished artist. In Louisville, her artwork was well-known under the name “Jane Oglesby Burns.” She worked for many years for Little Peoples Workshop, where she illustrated wonderful teaching aids for children. She also developed greeting cards that were published by Hallmark. She created many delightful and original paintings on canvas, stained glass, pottery sculptures, appliqued cloth banners, and numerous other types of art that illustrated her unlimited imagination. Among her most well-known pieces was a cover for the Kentucky Derby Program and a whimsical map of the City of Louisville. Jane’s creativity was reflected in her wonderful sense of humor, the twinkle in her eyes, her compassionate heart, and her unwavering love for her daughter, Diane. Jane was predeceased by her parents, the late James and Cora Alice Liles, of Raleigh. In addition to her daughter, Diane Michele Burns, of Louisville, she is survived by her sister, Alice Liles Sharpe, nieces Cindy Sharpe Keen, Donna Sharpe Campbell, and her husband, Craig, all of Raleigh, and many much-loved great-nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family is forever grateful to Hillcrest Raleigh at Crabtree for making the last few years of Jane’s life happy and meaningful. She was blessed to find a “home” at Hillcrest after a series of falls that caused Jane’s health to fail. She was unable to walk or even transfer herself from wheelchair to bed but because of the compassionate and competent physical therapists at Hillcrest, Jane went from “bedridden” to “strutting around” with her rollator almost anywhere she wanted to go. After discovering Jane’s creative abilities, the Activities staff did everything possible to provide Jane an opportunity to paint, so once again, Jane was able to be in her “happy place” with her paints. Hillcrest residents and staff became Jane’s family and a mutual admiration for many was developed during the years she was there. A graveside service will be held 2:00 pm Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at Montlawn Memorial Park. A service of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Raleigh, NC.