City Manager's Wife, Jane Sherwood Osborne, Dies

Jane Sherwood Osborne of Douglasville passed away Thursday, May 23. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 28, at the West Metro Church of God. Interment services will be at Lawnwood Memorial Park in Covington at 3 p.m. May 28. The family will receive friends at the funeral home, Monday, May 27 from 3 to 8 p.m.

Jane Osborne, 81, was a pioneer in home health care in Georgia. Her husband Bill is City Manager in Douglasville. Jane and Bill have five sons, five daughters in law, eleven grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

Ms. Osborne was an R.N., having graduated from the Crawford W. Long School of Nursing in 1950. Over the next 50 years, she served as a nurse in hospitals in the Atlanta area and Jacksonville, Florida; physicians’ offices; the Rockdale County and City of Atlanta School Systems; and in home care.

She was successful in changing the home health care industry in Georgia almost 30 years ago, according to her husband. Until then, home health care agencies had to be private non-profits. Jane wanted to own and operate a home health care business, which state law did not permit at that time, Mr. Osborne explained.

Ms. Osborne and her husband Bill went to the State Capitol and met with Representative Joe Frank Harris, who later served as Georgia’s Governor. After listening to Jane for several minutes, Mr. Osborne said Representative Harris stopped her and asked: Jane, do you want me to handle this for you? The rest is history.

Several years ago Jane Osborne served as a consultant to her brother Charles Sherwood in establishing a high tech home health care infusion business Sherwood Clinical, headquartered in Habersham County, Georgia.

Jane Osborne was an active member of West Metro Church of God for many years. She was a leader in the Prayer Center of West Georgia, and was known as a strong woman of prayer.

In addition to her husband Bill, Jane Osborne is survived by sons Alan Lansburg and wife Cathy of Fort Mill, SC; Scott Lansburg and wife Cheryl of Covington; Steve Lansburg and wife Claudia of Lexington, SC; Don Osborne and wife Lynn of Covington; and Paul Osborne and wife Lauren of Omaha, NE; brother Charles Sherwood and wife Jackie of Cornelia; sister Patsy Walden and husband Troy of Monroe; sister Gloria Hahn and husband Ray of Greensboro, NC; sister-in-law Nancy Smith and husband Reuben of Athens; brother-in-law Doug Osborne and wife Kathy of Tallahassee, FL; grandchildren Melanie Shuman and husband Bret; Megan Lansburg, Margaret Lansburg; Jonathan Lansburg and wife Megan; Seth Lansburg,; Matthew Lansburg, Joseph Lansburg, Brent Osborne; Lindsey Osborne; Nicole Osborne; and David Osborne; great grandchildren Aiden Shuman; Eli Shuman, and Evelyn Dawn Lansburg; and nieces and nephews.

Jane Osborne graduated from Porterdale High School in 1948. Her sister Patsy says that as a senior, Jane was chosen for all the superlatives.

She was born Feb. 23, 1932, in Mansfield, Georgia, the daughter of Aubra Lee Sherwood and Ruth Campbell Sherwood.

Flowers are accepted or donations may be made to the church or charity of your choice.

Those wishing may express condolences online at www.whitleygarner.com.

Arrangements by Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven, Douglasville, phone 770-942-4246.