Jean Marie Jett Byrne
02/28/1934 - 10/27/2026
Jean Marie Jett Byrne passed away Tuesday, October 27th, at the age of 92, surrounded by her heartbroken children. Born February 28th, 1934, in Nashville, TN. She lit up every room she entered, and every person she met was better for spending time in her orbit.Her life was defined by her love of the arts: photography, painting, dancing, and handmade folk art.
She was an award-winning photographer featured in Parade Magazine as well as a pioneer in okra and oyster holiday art that sold at Cracker Barrels across the country. She was a dance instructor at the Arthur Murray School of Dance and captivated all as a Fox at The Penthouse Club. And her performance art included an impromptu run as a witch through the halls of Western Heights Elementary in the 1960’s, accompanied by her great friend, Jeri Tapley. But what gave her the most joy in life was being a mother to her six mediocre children, and she infused her creativity and art in their daily lives through cuss days, pot and pan bands, and, yard darts (all happily survived). These (sadistic?) rituals such as yard darts and magnolia cone dodge ball continue to be practiced (or endured) by the generations that have followed. Her reunions, often held at her home which smelled of nutmeg and mandarin, filled with foreign artifacts, her photography, her hand-crafted art, animal print wallpaper, and a warm glow that only she could create; were raucous reunions where strangers and family laughed and danced and plotted. And events that brought generations of family and friends together from across the world to her table. From the Byrne Bashes in Panama City Beach to World Cup parties with the infamous Colin and Matthew Reeves, she will always be remembered as someone who reveled in the joy of others and they in her.
She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 60 years, Thomas Francis Byrne of Valley Nebraska, her brother Michael Floyd Jett, and her parents Louise Marie Burns and Floyd Jett. Her memory will be forever cherished by her sister Theresa Jett Samson and her six children Stephen Jett Byrne, Thomas Jude Byrne, Katie Byrne Coolidge (John), Patrick Francis Byrne (Becky), Keely Marie Byrne, Mimi Byrne Milam, her twelve grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. She was a lifelong Catholic and a parishioner at Holy Redeemer Church in Eufaula, AL, St. Bede’s in Montgomery, AL and seasonally at St. Thomas More in Sarasota, FL. Ninety-two years is by most standards enough time, but in the case of Jeanie Jett, another ninety years would still fall short. She will be forever missed.
She was an award-winning photographer featured in Parade Magazine as well as a pioneer in okra and oyster holiday art that sold at Cracker Barrels across the country. She was a dance instructor at the Arthur Murray School of Dance and captivated all as a Fox at The Penthouse Club. And her performance art included an impromptu run as a witch through the halls of Western Heights Elementary in the 1960’s, accompanied by her great friend, Jeri Tapley. But what gave her the most joy in life was being a mother to her six mediocre children, and she infused her creativity and art in their daily lives through cuss days, pot and pan bands, and, yard darts (all happily survived). These (sadistic?) rituals such as yard darts and magnolia cone dodge ball continue to be practiced (or endured) by the generations that have followed. Her reunions, often held at her home which smelled of nutmeg and mandarin, filled with foreign artifacts, her photography, her hand-crafted art, animal print wallpaper, and a warm glow that only she could create; were raucous reunions where strangers and family laughed and danced and plotted. And events that brought generations of family and friends together from across the world to her table. From the Byrne Bashes in Panama City Beach to World Cup parties with the infamous Colin and Matthew Reeves, she will always be remembered as someone who reveled in the joy of others and they in her.
She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 60 years, Thomas Francis Byrne of Valley Nebraska, her brother Michael Floyd Jett, and her parents Louise Marie Burns and Floyd Jett. Her memory will be forever cherished by her sister Theresa Jett Samson and her six children Stephen Jett Byrne, Thomas Jude Byrne, Katie Byrne Coolidge (John), Patrick Francis Byrne (Becky), Keely Marie Byrne, Mimi Byrne Milam, her twelve grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. She was a lifelong Catholic and a parishioner at Holy Redeemer Church in Eufaula, AL, St. Bede’s in Montgomery, AL and seasonally at St. Thomas More in Sarasota, FL. Ninety-two years is by most standards enough time, but in the case of Jeanie Jett, another ninety years would still fall short. She will be forever missed.