| Graduation Year | Class of 1964 |
| Date of Passing | Mar 16, 2018 |
| About | Jane Warren Meeks Hager, Ph.D., peacefully passed away at home on March 16, 2018, following a long illness. There was time for one last kiss and “I love you” and Jane was gone. During her last days, she was comforted by the love of family and friends. Her face would break into a smile when they visited with her. Jane was born in Longview, TX on May 12, 1946 and was the daughter of Ollie W. Warren and Vera Belle Richardson Warren. Jane was the treasured wife and partner of David R. Hager for nearly 30 years. She was the beloved mother of Michael Warren Meeks and step-mother of David R. Hager, Jr. and his wife Michelle Marie Hager as well as Michele Hager Clark and her husband Jae Clark. She was the deeply loved Mimi to four grandboys that she adored - Tyler Hager, Aiden Clark, Ryan Hager, and Ean Clark. We all knew that the four grandboys came first in Jane’s priorities. Jane is also survived by her beloved brother and his wife, the Rev. Randy Warren and Mary Essay Warren, nieces, a nephew, and scores of cousins in Texas and New York. In addition, surviving her is Frank Meeks, Jane’s former husband, and his spouse Donna Meeks -- or as Jane and Donna dubbed themselves “wife-in-laws.” She also leaves behind Bill and Gail Midtgard, her dear brother-in-law and sister-in-law. There are a host of close friends that mourn her passing, including: Carolyn Carter Wynn, who stayed close to Jane since they met in the 7th grade in elementary school; Marilyn Eanet, who first met Jane in graduate school; the Longview High School “Class of 64 Girls,” and the “Fish Sisters,” Judy Bowman, Shirley Glover, Lorraine Connaughton, and Deb Swiecinski who met at Old Dominion University and shared their friendship for more than 25 years. Next, there are the wonderful friends and neighbors who are the community of the Landings at Bolling Square. They have been kind and loving in the care that they’ve provided for Jane and David, sustaining them during the months of her illness. Finally, there are generations of students whose lives were touched by Jane and with whom she shared her love of reading, learning and scholarship. Jane was a highly regarded professional educator in the fields of reading and literacy. She completed her master’s degree at Northwest Missouri State University and took a Ph.D. at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. While completing her doctoral studies, Jane was a reading specialist in the St. Joseph, Missouri public school system. In 1977, she joined the reading program at Old Dominion University in 1977, where she served as a faculty member, department chair, and graduate program director. Jane was also appointed as the associate dean and acting dean of the Darden College of Education. She retired from ODU in 2010, after 33 years of service, with the designation of Professor Emerita in Teaching and Learning, which recognized her many contributions to the institution and her discipline. Jane was an excellent teacher and outstanding scholar of literacy, having published more than 70 articles in professional journals in her field and presented her research at dozens of conferences, such as those sponsored by the College Reading Association and International Literacy Association. In addition, she was active in professional organizations serving as the president of the Virginia State Reading Association, chair of the American Reading Forum, and an examiner for the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. During her career at Old Dominion, Jane was a leader in efforts to achieve the equality of women and enhancement of the diversity of Old Dominion’s faculty, staff, and students. Her efforts were merged with those of others to establish the University Women’s Caucus. Jane also worked with her colleagues at ODU as well as representatives of the local public school systems, especially Norfolk, to improve learning environments and academic success of their students and faculty. Prior to retirement, she and her colleagues, Steve Tonelson, Robert Gable, and Cheryl Baker, proposed and implemented multi-year, statewide multi-million dollar grants that addressed the need in Virginia to provide special education teachers across the Commonwealth the knowledge and skills necessary for certification and to effectively responding to their special needs students. Following retirement, Jane served as the Vice President and President of the Old Dominion University Faculty Emeriti Association. She and her husband David traveled extensively in Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, Japan, and the United States. Favored destinations included the Outer Banks, Colorado, Texas, Florida, and South Carolina Hawaii. A wedding anniversary cruise for her and David was always on the annual travel agenda. Often, the trips involved seeing her beloved grandboys, especially the yearly reunion with them and their parents at Hilton Head Island. Jane’s family & friends would like to sincerely thank the wonderful people who provided excellent care for Jane during her last month. They include caregiver Gwen McPherson, & the home care staff from Gold Care Services, especially Catrina Brown, Lorraine “Rainey” Jones, & Necetrica “Nikki” Peterkin & the staff of Sentara Hospice Services, especially Heather Smith, & Phillip Rougeux, Jane’s nurses, & Aide Angela Smith. Together they worked tirelessly with the family, especially her husband David, to care for Jane at home & keep her comfortable as she lived through this last ordeal. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments is handling all arrangements. Visitation with the family is scheduled at H.D. Oliver’s Norfolk Chapel at 1501 Colonial Ave, Norfolk, VA 23517, Wed, March 21, 2018 at 6-8:00 pm. Condolences may be placed at www.hdoliver.com A celebration for Jane’s life was held at Larchmont United Methodist, 1101 Jamestown Crescent, Norfolk, VA 23508 Thurs, March 22, 2018 at 1:00 pm. A reception followed at the Church’s Fellowship Hall.. Donations may be made in Jane’s name to scholarship programs at Old Dominion University that she initiated & supported. 1st Jane Hager Endowed Scholarship in Literacy in the Darden College of Education. Send donations for this to the Old Dominion U. Educational Foundation, 4417 Monarch Way, Norfolk, VA 23529. 2nd Warren Endowed Scholarship for Women Student-Athletes. Send to the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation, 4417 Monarch Way, Norfolk, VA 23529. |
