Mary Jane Ross Freeman, of Alamance County, passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on November 27, 1938, in Alamance County to the late John and Julia Ross. She was married for over 65 years to the love of her life, Charles Vernon Freeman, who preceded her in death in 2022.

Mary Jane built a life marked by hard work, devotion, and quiet gifts that touched many around her. She graduated from AO School and went on to work for more than 30 years in the textile industry. She later retired from the Alamance-Burlington School System, where she worked in the cafeteria.

She found joy in the simple and beautiful things in life. Mary Jane loved sewing, gardening, and cooking, and she became especially well known for her flowers, earning the affectionate reputation as the “Iris Lady of Alamance County.” Her love for gardening was recognized when she was featured in the Burlington Times-News. She was also a longtime member of TOPS and KOPS of Burlington, where she enjoyed fellowship and friendship with others.

Above all, Mary Jane’s life was rooted in family. She is survived by her daughters, Doris Ann Summers and her husband, Randy, and Julie Miller and her husband, Jeff. She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Amber Summers Hudson and her husband, Keith; Dusty Summers and his wife, Erin; Dakota Summers; Joshua Miller; and Justin Miller. Her legacy continues through her great-grandchildren, Omar, Tripp, ZoieAnn, Jameson, Xander, Jack, Lennon, Luke, Beau, River and Andrew.

She is also survived by her sister, Linda Davis and her husband, Wayne; and her brothers, Jerry Ross and Brenda Summers, and Gary Ross and his wife, Shirley.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Vernon Freeman; her mother, Julia Vivian Moore Ross; her father, John Henon Ross; her sisters, Louise Johnson and her husband, Johnnie, and Oliva Lassiter and her husband, Hal; and her brother, Cecil Ross.

A funeral service to celebrate Mary Jane’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026, at Lighthouse Bible Church, with burial to follow at Alamance Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at Lowe Funeral Home, as well as at other times at the home of Jeff and Julie Miller, 2024 Altamahaw Union Ridge Road, Burlington, NC 27217.