Eugenia Claire Mitchum was born on October 24, 1927 in Autaugaville, Alabama to James earl Motley and Annabelle Duffey Motley. She was the third child of six. Her father was an iron worker and her mother was a housewife. Jeanne was named for her grandmother who lived on a farm. Farm life helped Jeanne become adventurous and have a love for animals. The family moved around to where the jobs were.

She married her first husband Jerry  who was in the military and it started her adventures to Mississippi and Alaska. She camped & fished and loved Alaska. After the marriage broke up she moved to Washington DC where she got a job for the government in the Office of Personnel.

Along the way she met and married for 45 years and her adventure included buying a boat and riding around the waterways and fishing.

She retired and moved to Alabama. When her husband passed she moved to Florida. She was very generous and fair with people and Church. She left a stepdaughter Cathy Yost and her family, and Molly Motley and family