Jan Jernigan Gay passed away peacefully in her sleep on, April 14. She was 83.

Jan and her husband Bob Gay were married for 63 years and had known each other for 70. In addition to being a wonderful mother, Jan was well known for being a supportive and loving wife, and an amazing friend.

Jan was not a bystander by nature, she was a full participant. She and Bob loved tennis and golf, skiing and sailing, especially when those activities were with friends and family. She also was fearless. When Bob got a Harley-Davidson, so did she. When he earned his private pilot’s license, she did too (and even scored higher than he did on the exam).

Jan was quietly hilarious, with a wonderful sense of humor. Even as dementia began to take her words, that impish grin let you know she was in on the joke or was thinking of something really funny to say. While she took care of Bob most of their lives, the roles reversed these last few years and in her own way, she prepared Bob to take care of himself- he’s quite the cook and laundry specialist now.

Born in Tampa, Florida, Jan and her family moved to Fort Myers, Florida when she was 14. Shortly thereafter she met Bob Gay, soon to be her high school sweetheart and love of her life. After graduating high school, she took classes at Florida State University while Bob was a student there, and also at the University of Florida. In 1964, the couple and new child John moved to Atlanta, where she finished her degree at Georgia State. A second child, Cindy, arrived the next year.

A transfer to the New York office of Bob’s company led the family to New Providence, New Jersey for three years before returning to Atlanta. Later, as empty nesters, Jan and Bob bought an accounting practice in Valdosta, Georgia, where they lived for seven years. It was while in Valdosta that they learned of a place called Fernandina Beach, Florida where in 2000 they would build their dream home looking out onto the Intercoastal Waterway. They lived in that home until moving to an in-law suite in Cindy’s home in downtown Fernandina Beach in 2019.

Jan is survived by her husband Olin Robert Gay, daughter Cynthia Gay Jacoby, son John Fontaine Gay and grandkids Mary Louise Gay, Molly McLean Jacoby, Robert McCue Gay, and Jack Marshall Jacoby. She was preceded in death by her mother Ernestine Leo Shemwell, her father, Allen Orman Jernigan, and her brother Michael Vann Jernigan.

Jan’s family will miss her more than we can say, but we carry her love and that smile with us always. We are in peace, because she is in peace. Thank you for all of the condolences and well-wishes.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation be made to the Barnabas Center at 1301 Jasmine Street, Suite 101, Fernandina Beach, Florida.