Christine Joyner shared this information about her Mom, who “never stopped learning and was starting to learn Chinese to go teach English in China when diagnosed with cancer.”
The daughter of the late Dr. John Cole and Jeannette Drost Burwell, Jeanne was raised in Greensboro, N.C. Jeanne attended Duke University, served in the Peace Corps, and then received her PhD in biochemistry from NC State University. She retired from NC State University in 2005 after a career as a research scientist in the Department of Animal Science. She was active in many organizations, including her church, the League of Women Voters, and numerous professional groups. Most recently, Jeanne served as an appointee of the Governor on the NC Energy Policy Council.
She was an avid competitive swimmer and held several state records in her Masters age class. She also loved classical music, ballet, and gardening.
Jeanne is survived by her husband of 40 years, Robert K. Koger; her children, Christine Koger Joyner and husband, G. William Joyner III, Jeannette Koger Team, Robert James Koger and wife, Carmen Limburg Koger, and her six grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, James Burwell and his wife, Ellen, of Greensboro.