Mary Jane Spivey

Mary Jane Smith Spivey, age 86, of Forsyth, GA, died on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at Pruitt Health - Forsyth.

Mrs. Spivey was born in Monroe County, GA, on May 8, 1939, to Mary Juanita Vaughn Smith and James Gray Smith. Her family moved to Forsyth, GA, in 1947. She graduated from Mary Persons High School in 1957 and attended Tift College for two years before graduating from the University of Georgia in 1961.

Mrs. Spivey was a lifelong teacher having taught in Georgia elementary schools in Albany (Dougherty County) and Dublin (Laurens County). She enjoyed mentoring her students in later years as well as tutoring.

While in Albany, GA, she met her husband, Harlon P. “Skip” Spivey on a blind date. They were married for 44 years, until his death in 2017. After their marriage, she joined the Presbyterian Church and was an active member of Henry Memorial Presbyterian Church in Dublin, GA, for over 25 years where she served as an Elder, on various committees, and was a dedicated choir member.

Mrs. Spivey had a servant’s heart and was always finding ways to help others. She enjoyed the friendships that she made over the years through participation in Women’s Christian Fellowship Groups, Georgia Retired Educators Association, Dublin Garden Club, Forsyth Garden Club, Major Philip Cook Chapter of the National Society of the United States Daughters of 1812, United Daughters of the Confederacy, and The Daughters of the American Revolution. Her love for genealogy led her and Skip on many trips searching for ancestors of the Smith, Vaughn, and Spivey families. Mary Jane also had a special love for dogs and volunteered her time with several rescue organizations in Dublin and Forsyth.

In addition to her husband and parents, Mary Jane was preceded in death by a brother, James “Jimmie” Smith, a step-grandson, Jason Rudisill and her beloved pet, Rusty. She is survived by her stepdaughter Lottie S. (Bill) Kay of Winston-Salem, NC and Debra S. (Mike) Pace of Aberdeen, NC, step-granddaughter, Jenny Lee Rudisill of Aberdeen, sister Marian Smith Allen of Forsyth, GA, sister Martha Smith Bullard of Griffin, GA, numerous nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews, all of whom she loved dearly.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at Monroe County Memorial Chapel, 86 West Main Street, Forsyth, GA. A time of visitation with the family will follow the service prior to interment at Monroe Memorial Gardens, Ensign Road, Forsyth, GA.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to all the staff and special caregivers at Pruitt Health-Forsyth Nursing Home and Pruitt Health Hospice and Palliative Care for the care they provided.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Save a Pet, Inc, P. O. Box 933, Forsyth, GA 31029 or to Rock on Rescue, Inc., 1152 Hill Road, Forsyth, GA 31029.

Monroe County Memorial Chapel has charge of the arrangements.