Mrs. Lane was born in Franklin, Georgia on June 18, 1926, the daughter of the late Lucy Pearl Smith Newman and Roger Hood Newman. From a very early age it was clear that little Irene would be a worker. No job was too big for her to conquer, so when she became a wife and mother not only did she work hard at caring for her own family but also devoted many hours a week in activities for the friends of her children. It was through the Brownie and Cub Scott programs that she first began to influence the young lives in Heard County. Her devotion to all of these children gave them a wonderful start in life. She taught them life skills that would last a life time. After her children were grown, at the age of 50 she decided it was time to further her education. She became a Licensed Practical Nurse and began a new career, this time caring for the sick at Heard County Memorial Hospital and later senior citizens at the Franklin Health Care Center. The wonderful care she gave to all her patients will long be remembered. In her spare time she enjoyed working at the Power’s Crossroads Country Store. After retirement most of her time was spent in the care of her sick husband and she did this with love and devotion. Throughout her life church was very important to both she and her family. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Franklin, but also devoted a lot of time to the neighborhood church Wesley Chapel Methodist Church, and Pleasant Hill Baptist Church during her childhood. Anything that Irene did she did with great gusto! All who knew her were blest by her great zeal for life.

She is survived by two daughters , Susan Putman of Carrollton, GA., Helen Bittinger of Franklin, GA.; one son, Tom Lane (Kim) of Cumming, GA.; sister, Myrtle Wilbur of Newnan, GA.; brother, Paul Newman of Eldorado, AK.; five grandchildren, Ashley Leatherwood (Nick) of Kennesaw, GA., Nathan Putman (Lindsey) of Franklin, GA., Russell Hannah also of Franklin, GA.; Christina Hannah (Justin Cruce) of Savannah, GA., and Lindsey Shoemaker of Cumming, GA.; and one great-granddaughter, Bailey Putman of Franklin, GA.