Jane Preston

Jane Anderson Preston July 21, 1932 – January 8, 2026

Funeral services for Jane Anderson Preston, 93 of Jackson, Tn. are set for Friday, February 13, 2026 at 2pm at Magnolia Funeral Home – East Chapel. Visitation will be Friday, February 13, 2026 from 12pm-2pm at Magnolia Funeral Home- East Chapel. Interment will follow the service in Booneville City Cemetery.

Jane Anderson Preston passed away peacefully on January 8, 2026, in Jackson, Tennessee, at the age of 93. She lived a long, faithful, and purposeful life—one defined by devotion to God, love for family, and a deep belief in the power of words, education, and kindness.

Born and raised in Booneville, Mississippi, Jane carried her hometown with her wherever she went. Booneville was more than where she grew up—it was where her faith took root and where her lifelong Baptist beliefs were nurtured. A devoted member of First Baptist Church of Booneville, Jane’s Christian faith was not simply something she professed; it was something she lived, quietly and consistently, every day of her life.

Jane was a lifelong learner and a gifted communicator. She graduated from Booneville High School, earned her undergraduate degree from Blue Mountain College, and later completed a master’s degree at Northwestern University. She shared her love of language and expression as a professor of Speech and Drama at Northeast Mississippi Community College, where she encouraged countless students to find their voices and believe in themselves. Her grace, warmth, and high expectations left a lasting impression on many.

Later, Jane brought those same gifts of diligence and care to her husband’s medical practice, serving as office manager with competence, compassion, and steady leadership. Together, she and her husband, Dr. William Hall Preston, Jr., built not only a practice but a life rooted in service to others.

Jane’s commitment to Christian education extended beyond the classroom. She proudly served on the Board of Trustees of Blue Mountain Christian University, giving her time and wisdom to an institution that shaped her life and faith.

Above all, Jane was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dr. William Hall Preston, Jr.; her parents, Mildred Paulk Anderson and Dr. William Henry “Wick” Anderson; and others she loved deeply and missed greatly.

She is survived by her sister, Nancy Anderson; her son, Dr. William Anderson Preston, and his wife, Kimberly; and her grandchildren, William Anderson Preston, Jr., and Abigail Paige Preston.

Jane will be remembered for her strength, sharp intellect, unwavering faith, and the quiet dignity with which she lived her life. She taught by example—through her words, her actions, and her steadfast love. Her legacy lives on in the lives she shaped, the faith she modeled, and the family she so deeply loved.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the following:

Blue Mountain Christian University P.O. Box 160 Blue Mountain, MS 38610

Or to the Jane Anderson Preston Nursing Scholarship benefiting Baptist Health Sciences University. Please send memorial gifts to:

Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation 35 Humphreys Blvd. Memphis, TN 38120

Magnolia Funeral Home has been honored to serve the family of Mrs. Jane Anderson Preston.