Jane Higdon Brackett of Blue Ridge, Georgia
A native of Copperhill, TN, I am the third and youngest daughter born to Rachel and Walter Q. Higdon, eldest son of William Thomas Higdon. I married my high school sweetheart, Tom Bracket, in 1970. Two years later we went to graduate school together at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. After graduation we returned to Copperhill, and were both employed at an industrial chemicals plant there. In 1978, we moved to nearly rural Fannin County GA, where we raised two sons and have lived ever since.
My professional career of 39 years was in information systems, the past 11 years as a self-employed consultant. Now that we are retired, Tom and I enjoy gardening, hiking, traveling and being with our five grandchildren (2 of which were born in late 2012). Retirement gives me time for several volunteer activities including master gardener projects, serving on local scholarship committees, a women's health education council, a local literacy board, and a technical college board of directors.
Although my mother, Rachel Higdon, was only a Higdon by marriage and widowed in 1967, she was a very active HFA member for many years and encouraged my sisters and me to attend meetings. My sisters, Sally Swain and Nan Harrison, are both past presidents of HFA. My father's brother, Charles E. Higdon, was one of the founding members of HFA.
According to Opal Willis' book, my Higdon lineage can be traced back to the 1750's to Leonard Higdon of Anson County, NC. My great-great grandfather Leonard Higdon moved from Macon County, NC to what is now Fannin County, GA in 1850. I am the fifth consective generation of Higdons who have lived in Fannin County. Blue Ridge, the county seat of Fannin County, is where I will host our 2013 annual meeting on July 18-21. I hope that many Higdon family and friends will come and explore the rich history and natural beauty of the north Georgia and southeastern Tennessee mountain area that I call home.
