Jane Kellett Hayes, PhD (Kuzniacki), known as Jane or Janie to her family and friends and Mimi to her grandchildren, peacefully passed away on April 24, 2026. She was 77.

Born Betty Jane Kellett in Greenville, South Carolina, she was the daughter of John H. Kellett and Mattie Lou Watson Kellett. She was a graduate of Greenville High School and the University of Georgia, where she was a proud member of the Kappa Delta sorority. Raised and confirmed at Christ Church Episcopal in Greenville, Jane remained active in her faith throughout her life. She served on the vestry and as a lay reader at St. John’s Episcopal Church in College Park, Georgia, and was a longtime member of the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta.

Jane found the love of her life in her husband, Thomas (Tom) Kuzniacki, who loved and supported her completely and remained by her side until the end.

In the 1970s, when such a path was far less common, Jane raised her two sons while earning her master’s degrees in education and psychology, followed by her PhD in psychology. In 1978, she founded Atlanta Counseling & Educational Consultants, her private practice and the center of her professional life for nearly five decades. As a psychotherapist, she worked with children, adolescents, individuals, and families navigating complex challenges and was deeply committed to her work. She was ahead of her time in recognizing and addressing learning disabilities in children, long before this was widely understood or routinely addressed. She also taught at Woodward Academy and Oglethorpe University, conducted admissions and educational testing for decades, and later worked with military families at Fort McPherson.

Her patients trusted her. She took their calls, gave generously of her time, and stayed with them until the real problems were resolved. She did not rush them or offer easy answers. Instead, she listened deeply, with patience and care, and spoke with rare honesty that was both gentle and direct. People felt truly heard in her presence, often in ways they had not experienced before.

That steadiness defined her. Jane was brilliant, formidable in her clarity of thought, precise in her understanding of people and problems, and able to see what others missed. When life went wrong, she was the person you called, the one who would listen without rushing, ask the right questions, and help you see a path forward. In her care, confusion often gave way to clarity, and anxiety to something steadier.

Jane gave her full attention without distraction and then told you exactly what needed to be said, whether you wanted to hear it or not. You could rely on her, always.

Her humor stayed sharp. When asked about her sons’ careers, she would say, “The first one is a lawyer… but it’s okay, my other son is a doctor.”

During her sons’ years at the College of Charleston, she may or may not have helped them and their friends with psychology literature reviews and research papers, partly to spend time with them and partly because she simply could not help herself. On the rare occasion a paper earned

less than a perfect score, Jane could point to exactly where the grading had gone wrong, showing remarkable restraint when persuaded not to call the professor.

Jane’s presence was unmistakable, a smile with deep dimples and soft brown eyes. She loved the music of the 1970s and possessed a rare, intuitive gift. Despite never learning to read sheet music, she could hear almost anything, sit down at the piano or pick up a guitar, and bring it to life as if it had always been hers to play. She had a way of turning ordinary moments into something memorable.

Nothing meant more to Jane than her grandchildren. She loved them deeply and completely, finding her greatest joy in their presence. Being “Mimi” was where her time and energy naturally flowed, into hugs, encouragement, and countless small moments that meant everything.

Jane is survived by her loving husband, Thomas Kuzniacki; her sons, Jonathan Hayes of Atlanta and Scott Hayes and his wife Spruill of Charleston; her grandchildren, Hadley (13), Holden (15), Annie (7), and William (8); her step-grandchildren, Presley, Cassidy, and Will; her sister, Grace Kellett Gibson; and her beloved dogs, Bella and Bailey. She was preceded in death by her parents.

What she gave to her family, her friends, and those who relied on her endures.

We love you, Mom. We love you, Mimi.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 3480 E. Main Street, College Park, Georgia 30337, followed by a reception at the College Park Women’s Club Camellia Hall, 3413 Main Street, College Park, Georgia 30337.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Charleston Animal Society in honor of Jane K. Hayes:

https://charlestonanimalsociety.org/make-a-gift-in-honor-or-memory-of-a-loved-one

A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.