Deane Chavous, 75, passed away peacefully at her Mt. Pleasant home on January 19, 2026, leaving behind a legacy as bold, loyal, loving, and unforgettable as she was. Born in Columbia, South Carolina, and a graduate of A.C. Flora High School and the University of South Carolina, Deane was the daughter of the late Agnes Cooper Chavous and Alfred Giles Chavous, and the sister of the late Robin Chavous Ellisor (spouse: Ron Ellisor).

Deane is survived by her devoted son, Frank Lane Baker, Jr., and her daughter‑in‑law, Beth Palmer; her brother, Alfred "Giles" Chavous, Jr., and his wife, Irene; and her nieces, Kimberly M. Ellisor (spouse: Kimberly M. Powell) and Stacey Ellisor Richardson. She also embraced Lane's half-siblings - Bretlanne Baker Jones (spouse: Eric), Frank Harrison Baker (spouse: Jordan), and Aras Love Baker - as her own. Lane's childhood best friends, Wade Aiken Green, Jr., and William Charles "Cee" Hawkins, III, held a special place in her heart; she considered them her sons in every meaningful way. In recent years, Deane was grateful for the joy of being "Grandma Deane" to Kai (4) and Penny (2), Harrison and Jordan's children, who brought brightness to her world.

Deane was, by every measure, a force to be reckoned with. Fiercely protective, wonderfully feisty, and devoted to the people she loved, she lived life with a spirit that was impossible to ignore. Whether she was pouring a Jack Daniels on the rocks or climbing onto her own Harley-Davidson at age 55 - much to the horror and secret pride of her son - Deane embraced the world on her own terms.

A natural entrepreneur and a tenacious worker, Deane founded Deane Chavous Realtors in 1984, a real estate and property management firm that served Columbia for more than 20 years. In 2006, she sold her long‑held business for a new adventure, moving to Mt. Pleasant to partner in real estate with her son, Lane, in his then-new ventures: The Baker Group & Saltwater Homes. Together, they built the businesses side by side, and they continue to flourish today. Even after retiring in 2022, Deane remained an active presence - a mentor, a voice of reason (or unreasonable stubbornness, depending on the day), and a permanent member of The Baker Group & Saltwater Homes family.

Deane's faith was an anchoring force in her life. A long‑time member of Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, she also loved attending Seacoast with Lane. Her devotion to her animals was another trademark; she cared for them with the tenderness and loyalty she showed to all those she held dear.

Above all, Deane's greatest joy was her son, Lane. To Deane, Lane could do no wrong - truly. He could have robbed a bank, and she would have blamed the bank for poor security and excessive cash on hand. Their bond was unmistakable, unshakable, and the center of her world.

Deane was predeceased by Lane's father, Frank Lane Baker, one of the two great loves of her life. Though divorced, they remained friends until his passing in 2003. The other great love of Deane's life was Tommy Liles, whose friendship she cherished deeply throughout her entire life.

The void left by Deane's passing is felt widely - by her family, her friends, her church communities, her Saltwater Homes family, and the many people who knew her as the bright, determined woman she was. She lived courageously, loved deeply, and protected fiercely.

Her memory will forever be a blessing, and her spirit will live on in the countless lives she touched.

The family will receive friends for a wake/visitation on Monday January 26, 2026, from 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464.

A graveside service where Deane will be laid to rest next to family will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at Swallow Savannah Cemetery in Allendale, South Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, Deane's family would ask that donations be made to the Charleston Animal Society.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, 1520 Rifle Range Rd, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, 843-884-3833.