Jeane Cleveland Mehlhop

Jeane Thomas Cleveland Mehlhop passed away peacefully on Friday, August 13, 2021, after a short but valiant fight against cancer. August 13th is a particularly significant day for the family, as it was Jeanie’s mother’s birthday and a day that was always acknowledged and celebrated. Jeanie was at home, surrounded by family, when she died. She was 69 years old and had a jar of soil from Enchanted Rock under her bed so that she could “die over Texas soil like a good Texan.”

Jeanie was born in Austin, Texas on November 21, 1951 to Ima Jeane and John Cleveland. As a child, Jeanie spent her summers in the Texas hill country with her cousins, who felt more like brothers. She attended Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas, where she met life-long friends before transferring to The University of Texas in Austin, where she met her handsome neighbor, Joseph David Mehlhop.

Joe and Jeanie married on February 1, 1975 in Austin, Texas. After welcoming their two daughters, Joanna and Meagan, into the world, they moved to Brenham, Texas, where Jeanie quickly made herself known when she gently reminded Joanna’s new first grade teacher that prayer wasn’t allowed in school. Many similar events followed, including supporting Meagan’s desire to try out for the 8th grade football team (something Meagan had absolutely zero interest in doing but for the fact that girls weren’t allowed).

After working for some time as a social worker in a hospital setting, she spent most of her career working for the state of Texas, first as a Foster Parent Coordinator with Children’s Protective Services and later with Adult Protective Services.

Jeanie adjusted to small-town life, and Brenham became her home, thanks in large part to the community she found at Brenham Presbyterian Church. She also enjoyed playing Bunco with friends and rooting for any team playing against Texas A&M.

In 2014, Jeanie did something she never imagined she would do. She chose to leave the state of Texas. She and Joe moved to Atlanta, GA to be closer to their daughters and their daughters’ growing families. Again, Jeanie found community at Decatur Presbyterian Church, where she served as an Elder, and within a group of wonderful women, the Silver Dames. As much as she loved and missed Texas, Jeanie never regretted moving to Atlanta. The happiness she felt spending time with her daughters and grandkids cannot be overstated.

Jeanie had the true heart of a social worker, and even after retirement, she devoted her time to Threshold Ministry, connecting people experiencing homelessness with programs and resources, and with A Home for Everyone, an organization that started by providing shelter to unhoused people on cold nights and now works to help connect them to permanent housing.

Jeanie was honest and direct (with a healthy dose of sass). She was filled with fire and with fierce love … and also with Tex Mex and margaritas.

She is preceded in death by her mother Ima Jeane Cleveland; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Margaret and John Reid; her aunt and uncle, Dorothy and Wilton Smith; and beloved dogs Peanuts, Schroeder, Ebony, Maggie, Hero, Prissy, Zelda, Farrah, Rosie, and Claire.

She is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, Joseph David Mehlhop; her daughters Joanna Mehlhop Shepherd (Richard Fields) and Meagan Mehlhop Berardi (Eric Berardi), both of Atlanta, GA; her grandchildren Theodore Joseph Shepherd, Sophia Jeane Shepherd, Adam Louis Berardi, and Benjamin Thomas Berardi; and her sweet dog Charlie. She also leaves behind loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A service of remembrance and thanksgiving will take place on Saturday, August 21 at 9:00am at Decatur Cemetery. (Please dress comfortably for August in Atlanta.) An outdoor reception will follow at Communion (behind Revival) – 129 Church Street, Decatur.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jeanie’s honor to one of the following organizations: A Home for Everyone (www.ahomeforeveryoneindekalb.org), Texas Democrats (www.texasdemocrats.org), or Lifeline Animal Project (www.lifelineanimal.org).