Huaizhen Jane Zhang
Huaizhen Jane Zhang, 59, of Simpsonville, SC, wife of Jun Hu, passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Born in the Year of the Horse in Taiyuan, China, she was the daughter of Shaohua Peng and the late Ronghua Xiao.
After attending college in China, she left for the United States in 1989 and received her Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Carolina and MBA from Clemson University. She rose to VP of Engineering at Carter & Crawley before starting her own venture, STAR EV, in 2003 and more recently, STAR EV Rentals.
Jane led the company to great heights and received multiple awards like SC’s Top 25 Fastest Growing Companies, Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Southeast Regional Winner and National Finalist. She was chairwoman of the local Chinese Cultural Association and a vibrant leader in the local business community.
She was extraordinarily generous, witty, and kind. Her tenacity extended not just to business but to her love for life. She never stopped reading, learning, and caring for others. She was exceptional.
She leaves behind a great legacy that will surely be carried by the thousands of people whose lives she has touched. One of her last words was “明天更好”, “Tomorrow will be a better day.” This captures her true indomitable spirit.
In addition to Jun, her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Jenny Hu and Jessica Hu; and two brothers, Huaibing Zhang and Huaizhong Zhang.
A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Fellowship Greenville; 3161 S Highway 14, Greenville, SC 29615. The family will be receiving friends prior to the service beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Interment will be private for the family and close friends.
I did not have the privilege of meeting Jane; but, felt I knew her vicariously thru my son, Tim.
She was indeed an exceptional person who will be missed by all who knew her and especially those who worked closely with her each day, admired her and her many accomplishments.
We followed her journey and prayed for her and her beautiful family.. we now share your loss.
Please accept our heartfelt sympathy.
I am wishing you peace and strength during your time of sorrow. She was the kindest most giving person and I am Blessed to have known her. I will remember her resilience and what a Great businesswoman she was.
It is with great sadness that I read this news. She has been a great friend and a wonderful person to work for. It is most unfortunate that she did not live to further enjoy her family and friends.
Jane has been a great and generous friend for quite some time. I first came to know her, approximately thirty years ago, when she worked at Carter & Crawley in South Carolina while I worked at their Ft. Lauderdale office. Eventually I went to work for her after she started JHGlobal, later renamed Star EV Corp., and I cherish the times we spent together.
We are all going to miss her very much.
The loss of Jane is hard to process. It was beyond an honor to work alongside her and to witness her strength, leadership, and determination. she was more than a leader, she was a mentor, a friend to all, a visionary, and a steady source of encouragement. Her courage and strength over the past several years was nothing short of remarkable. She never allowed her circumstances to define her, and she continued to lead with integrity, passion, and heart. I will always be grateful for the lessons she taught me, the standards she set, and the example she lived every day. My deepest condolences go to her family and to everyone whose life she touched. She leaves behind a legacy that will continue to guide and inspire each of us here at STAR. We love you Jane.
Jane has been my lifetime friend.
More than thirty-six years ago, we were among the young dreamers who first came to America — carrying hope in our hearts, determination in our steps, and the belief that through hard work we could build a future greater than our circumstances. We were far from home, starting from nothing, yet full of courage.
From those early graduate school days, I witnessed nearly every chapter of Jane’s life unfold — her marriage, the building of her beautiful family, raising her children with devotion and wisdom, and creating a company from the ground up. Through vision, integrity, intelligence, and relentless perseverance, she built a respected and successful business in the street-legal EV industry.
But Jane was more than a successful entrepreneur. She was a living example of what it means to pursue the American dream with dignity and purpose — and then give back to society with generosity and responsibility. For all of us who came to this country with dreams and worked tirelessly to realize them, she was our model, our standard, our inspiration. She showed that success is not only measured by achievement, but by character, contribution, and the lives we uplift along the way.
And in the past four years, I witnessed yet another chapter — her fierce and courageous battle with cancer. Even as her body weakened, her spirit never surrendered. She faced suffering with the same strength, grace, and quiet determination that defined her entire life.
Jane was an extraordinary woman — a loving and devoted mother, a steadfast and deeply cherished wife, a loyal and irreplaceable friend. Brilliant yet humble. Strong yet gentle. Accomplished yet always kind. She had my ultimate respect and my deepest love.
Though she has left us physically, her beautiful spirit continues to carry us forward. The values she lived by, the courage she demonstrated, and the love she gave so freely remain alive in all of us. She will never be forgotten. She will be remembered not only for what she achieved, but for who she was — and for how she made us better.
To her beautiful family — please know that you are never alone. We will always stand by you. May Jane’s memory bring you comfort and strength during this most difficult time. I truly believe she is watching over you, surrounding you with her love, and protecting you as she always has.
With enduring love, remembrance, and profound respect,
Ping
Jane Zhang wasn’t just my boss for 12 years — she was my friend. She and her husband built Star EV from the ground up, and she led with strength, intelligence, and quiet confidence. She was a true leader and such a role model for women in
When I got married, most of my family couldn’t be there — only my brother came. But my work family showed up. Jane stood by my side, just like she did in so many seasons of my life. That meant more to me than I can put into words.
She took us ladies out to lunch a few times a year, making sure we felt appreciated. A few years ago she decided to start running — and she ran the Turkey Trot and the BMW 2-mile race with me. That was Jane. Determined. Strong. Always growing.
She fought cancer courageously for four years. Only 59. Far too young.
I’m going to miss her deeply. I’m so grateful I got to know her, work for her, laugh with her, and call her my friend.
Rest peacefully, Jane. 🤍
Jane left us, it is a huge loss for the industry. I couldn’t believe it. I can still think of her warm smile when I sat with her, we talked about business and family. I learnt a lot from her not only in business, but also in personality. She is honest, sharp, she is the one who I know achieves the real American dreams.
I can still remember once she worked too late at night, I told her to go to bed to have a good sleep, she said “we are hardworking Chinese, aren’t we?”
R.I.P Jane
We are so sorry to hear of Jane’s passing. We were a Star EV dealer from Indiana for many years and visited the facility several times. Jane was truly one of a kind person and helped us grow our business in many ways. Prayers go out to her family and friends.
With a heavy heart I offer my sincere condolences. Jane was a giant of our community – business and non-business. Passionate, caring, hard-working, welcoming, knowledgeable, sincere. Her infectious smile reflected her spirit. She will be deeply missed. Condolences to her family, and the whole Star EV family.
Had the pleasure of meeting Jane a few years ago at the PGA Show. She was warm, proactive, and genuinely committed to building meaningful business relationships, which made our interaction both memorable and impactful. I am saddened to hear of her passing. May her entrepreneurial spirit live on, and we look forward to seeing STAR EV continue to grow.
I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Jane.
She was not only a strong leader, but a person of integrity, character, and heart. She left a huge positive impact on the electric Golf Car/LSV/Utility vehicle industry and the many people she interacted with internally and externally. Jane’s impact on those she worked with will not be forgotten.
My heartfelt condolences to Jun and family during this incredibly difficult time. May you find some comfort in the many lives she touched and the legacy she leaves behind.
In loving memory of such an extraordinary woman.
Today is a very sad day Jane being truly one of a kind. Listening to her share her life’s journey was something special she had a way of speaking that drew you in completely, hanging on every word. Her warmth, wisdom, and beautiful spirit touched so many lives.
I feel so blessed to have worked alongside her and to have witnessed the kindness, strength, and grace she carried every single day. She was not only remarkable, she was unforgettable.
My heart aches for her family. I am praying for them during this incredibly difficult time, asking that they be surrounded with comfort, lifted with strength, and wrapped in peace and love in the days ahead. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
I met Jane 9 years ago, when i went to her office and discussed a position at Star EV aka JH Global.
As she interviewed me the way she made me feel and her compassion and her leadership turned the interview into a wonderful meeting that I will never forget. Her words of wisdom and her compassion I will always remember.
I am truly grateful to Jane, and I thank her for giving me a chance to work for such a great Company.
I am so grateful that l that I had a chance to give Jane a big hug and to let her know how much she is appreciated.
If I can only hug her again but this time, I would hug her tighter and tell her how much she means to me.
As I am writing this my heart is hurting but her legacy will continue and I will never forget her. “As they say a truly great leader never dies in memory, her values and vision will always live on”.
I am sending my deepest condolences to Jun and the family during this heartbreaking time.
Jane is an angel who will be over all of us and watching us continuing to make her dreams and passion for her Company stay alive.
Thank you again Jane, I will miss you and I will always remember you in my heart and for everything you have done.
In memory of Jane Zhang – an exceptional leader with an indomitable spirit, whom I had the privilege of meeting 15 years ago in person, it has been an honor to be part of Star EV/JH Global journey.
Please accept our deepest condolences on the passing of Jane. As a partner in your international logistics, we had the privilege of witnessing her extraordinary vision and the global impact of the company she built.
‘明天更好’—will continue to inspire all of us.
We knew Ms. Jane for about 20 years; she was an exemplary, wise, and generous woman. We are saddened by her passing, but we also thank God for her rest and pray for love and strength for her family.
Rest in peace, Ms. Jane. We will always remember you with love and gratitude.
I worked for Jane and Jun for 6 years. I left Star EV in 2015 to take care of my mother. I had no idea that she was going through a battle with cancer. She was always asking me how I was everytime she saw me I the warehouse. In the summertime it was always very hot in the building. I was making tires one day and she passed by to say hello. She say I was miserable from the heat and ask if I was OK. I said I’ll be OK and she said anytime that I wanted to come sit in her office and cool off no matter when. She was a very caring woman.