Disconnected

Those numbers you have dialed that are no longer in service will ring a little more hollow. Jane Barbe, the voice of voicemail jail for more than 40 years, died last month at the age of 72. In the 1980s and '90s she was especially busy, with 90% of telephone intercepts and 60% of time and temperature updates featured her signature stylings, making her a major operator in the recording circuit. Although her voice was heard more than 40 million times a day, Barbe remained modest, without the hangups of other famous recording artists. In her retirement, she was the receiver of a more manageable number of calls, and the Southern belle maintained a quiet dignity to her dying day.