Jane Ellen Duncan Armstrong Ross

Jane Ellen Duncan Armstrong Ross was born on March 16, 1931, in

Birmingham, Alabama and died on March 11, 2026, in Mobile, Alabama. She was

preceded in death by her beloved family including her parents, James Henderson

Duncan and Marvoreen McKee Duncan, brother James "Jimmy" H. Duncan Jr.,

husband James Merrill Armstrong, husband L.D. Ross and long-time friend

Howard Foshee.

She is survived by her loving family including son Thomas Duncan Armstrong

(Suzan), Judy Armstrong Cooner (Steve), Grandchildren Tyler Duncan Armstrong

(Joseph), Shelley Mull Ryals (Jason), Erin Mull DeValk (Dane), Greatgrandchildren

Hannah Lamb Fowler (Austin), Kinley Ryals, Kennedy Ryals, Jaxon

DeValk and Jacob DeValk.

As a child Jane sang, danced and performed throughout the Birmingham area

charming audiences with songs made popular by Shirley Temple including Animal

Crackers in my Soup. She was crowned Queen of the Mickey Mouse Club at the

Alabama Theater.

Jane later studied piano and performed a Piano Recital for the Woodlawn Music

Study Club on May 2, 1949, which included Chopin's Polonaise Opus 40, No. 1 in

A Major. She graduated from Woodlawn High School in 1949. She nurtured her

musical talents throughout her life.

She was engaged at eighteen, married at nineteen and soon became a mother to

Tommy and Judy. She was known for her style and beauty. She was a talented

seamstress and made many of her own clothes fashioned after Jackie Kennedy.

Jane was also an experienced tax professional in her father's attorney-at-law and

tax practice for decades until his death and then continued her own tax preparation

business for many more years. She could play an adding machine as skillfully as

she could play the piano.

Jane was a devoted church member of Woodridge Baptist Church and was a

former member of Cottage Hill and Dauphin Way Baptist Churches all in Mobile.

She was a former member of several churches in Birmingham including Woodlawn

Baptist, Central Park Baptist, and Cahaba Heights Baptist. In Selma she was a

former member of Elkdale Baptist Church. In Louisville, Kentucky, she was a

former member of Bethany Baptist Church. She was an acclaimed choir member

and a featured soloist in most every church she attended. She was known for

singing heartfelt spirituals which included Were you There? Sweet Little Jesus Boy,

and His Eye is on the Sparrow. Her voice still rings.

In recent years, Mama Jane delighted in her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren,

attending many ballgames, dance programs, theater performances,

baptisms, vacations, holidays, graduations and weddings. She will be remembered

for her faith, her bubbly and outgoing personality, her beauty, her talent and her

love for her family. Her life has been a blessing for us all.

A family graveside service was held in Birmingham, Alabama. A Memorial

Service will be held at Woodridge Baptist Church, 2700 Schillinger Road South,

Mobile, Alabama, on Thursday, April 2, at 5:30pm.

"and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest".