Obituary - Jane Hart Haisley
An inspiration to many and a friend to all with whom she came in contact, Jane Hart Haisley passed away on March 16, 2026, peacefully at her home at Cedarfield in Richmond. Jane was known to her family as a loving mother, grandmother, and in recent years, great-grandmother. She went by numerous names, but her favorites were “Mom” and “Granny.”
Jane was born in Kinston, North Carolina, just before the start of the Depression. She was an only child, attending minor league baseball games with her father and she loved sports. She played basketball in high school and enjoyed watching sports of all kinds, including her cousins who played for Duke and Wake Forest.
She graduated from Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with a degree in mathematics which led her to Charlotte where she began teaching math in school. During her time in Charlotte, she was introduced to a dashing Midwesterner from Indiana, Les Haisley. He shared her love for sports-particularly basketball, and their dating led to marriage on July 21, 1956, in Durham, North Carolina. Their honeymoon included a trip to Cape Cod after a stop on their wedding night in Richmond. This was a great start to their almost 69 years of marriage.
Jane continued working as a teacher until the arrival of their first child, Elizabeth (Betty) Haisley Cochrane in November 1958. After Betty’s birth, Jane & Les moved to California and New York before arriving in Richmond to live. During this time, the couple welcomed both John David Haisley and Samuel Cole Haisley to the family.
Jane’s focus during these years was being a loving mother and wife. She enjoyed being at home and nurturing her children. As an only child, she took her responsibility to her parents very seriously. She would go to Kinston on a moment’s notice whenever her parents were in need. In her limited spare time, Les & Jane would play cards with other couples. She had a life-long love affair with the game of Bridge. Although she was a southern lady with impeccable manners, at the Bridge table, she was determined—and did not like to lose!
When she was able to carve out some personal time, Jane enjoyed the Commonwealth Women’s Club and worked as a volunteer at Retreat Hospital. She was also an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves, the University of Virginia, and whoever was playing Virginia Tech—sorry, Connor! She also participated in any activity/cause her family supported. She taught youth Sunday School at River Road Presbyterian Church and was an active member there for decades.
After Jane & Les decided to sell their home and move to Cedarfield, she began her service there. She enjoyed meeting new people and tried to make everyone feel welcome. She expressed her Christlike love for others by visiting other residents in Memory Care or Healthcare, especially those without family nearby.
Although Jane loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, nothing topped her love for Les. The two were devoted to each other’s happiness and comfort. They would have to negotiate on travel though. She would willingly go anywhere—as long as she did not have to fly! She would fly on occasion but could never sleep on the plane. She worried who would keep the pilots awake if she went to sleep! For their 35th wedding anniversary, Les offered to take her anywhere in the world that she wanted to go; they went to Williamsburg. Jane loved going to the beach as a family. Many wonderful memories were created at Emerald Isle, North Carolina. These experiences will be treasured by her children and grandchildren for years to come.
Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Lester (Les) Dennis Haisley, Jr., parents, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Cole Hart and John Quincy Hart as well as her in-laws, Zola Lee Haisley and Lester (Punch) Dennis Haisley.
Jane is survived by her children Betty Cochrane (David), John Haisley (Valarie), and Sam Haisley (Eduardo Vidal); her grandchildren Cole Johnson (Krystle Waldron), Connor Johnson (Chaney), Sarah Wind, Susannah Haisley (Reid Tammen, fiancé), Quincy Haisley (Drew Woodham), Sidney Haisley; great grandchildren, Byron Johnson, Callen Johnson, Cooper Johnson, and Lucy Johnson. Jane treasured her family and loved wearing a sweatshirt with each of the grandchildren’s names on it. In her last few years, seeing the great grandchildren brought her some of her biggest smiles.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Amy Scheer, Ann Hopper, Adline Witcher and their “angels of mercy” – Karen, Kayla, Yolanda, Paula, Tonya, Melanie, Jen, and Shawn – who provided tender care and encouragement to Jane during even the darkest of days. A celebration of life honoring Jane will be held beginning at 2:00pm on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at Cedarfield, 2300 Cedarfield Pkwy, Henrico, VA 23233. Bliley Funeral Home has been entrusted with the cremation as requested by Jane.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donation be made in memory of Jane Haisley to the Scholarship Fund at Cedarfield (cedarfield.org/philanthropy). You are also invited to visit the online registry at blileys.com.
