BETTY JANE COLEMAN SPOONER

Betty Jane Coleman Spooner died Friday, April 15, 2016, at Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan, Alabama, following a week’s illness. The daughter of Mary Ella Monfort and Roswell Andrew Coleman, she was born in Cuthbert, Georgia, on December 23, 1931. The granddaughter of Janie Gertrude Cleveland and John Thomas Monfort of Randolph County and of Artie Methvin King and Robert Andrew Coleman of Randolph and Clay counties, she spent her early childhood in both those counties, beginning school in Cuthbert. Following the marriage of her mother to Carlton Douglas Thomas in 1940, she moved to Donalsonville which was her home for the remainder of her 84 years. Following graduation from Seminole High School, she attended Georgia State College for Women (now Georgia College and State University). On March 22, 1950, she married Billy Bruton Spooner of Seminole County. They first lived with his parents, Delia Jernigan and Lewis E. “Luke” Spooner, then on their farm in the Lela community before moving to Donalsonville in 1964. She was a tireless worker in First Baptist Church programs from 1940 until recent years when her health necessitated a less active role. A talented pianist, she played for Sunday School classes and Vacation Bible School. Known for the accuracy and thoroughness of her work, she served a long tenure as Church Clerk, writing minutes of church conferences and keeping membership records. At two different times, she worked in the administrative office of Seminole County High School, first while J. B. Jenkins was principal and later while Louis Bonner was principal. Wherever she worked she was valued for her friendly, positive and helpful spirit. Betty Jane devoted herself to being a loving, nurturing family member – daughter, wife, mother and grandmother – and lived to enjoy the arrival to two great-grandchildren. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Billy Bruton Spooner, their son Walter Bruton Spooner, and their daughters, Mary Phyllis Spooner, Rebecca Charlotte Spooner Easom and husband Nick of Lawrenceville, and Delia Ann Spooner King and husband Randy; three grandchildren Rebecca King Sheffield and husband Andrew, Andrew Skylar King, and Bethany Nicole Easom, and two great-grandchildren, Brooklyn and Drew Sheffield. She is also survived by her sisters Mary Anne Thomas Thurman and husband J. H. “Howdy” Thurman and Charlotte Thomas Marshall; sisters-in-law Lucy Bush Thomas, Martha Nell Garwood Spooner, and brothers-in-law and their wives, Roger and Eloise Spooner and Cecil and Mary Ann Spooner. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, William Andrew Spooner, in 1962. Services at the chapel of Evans-Skipper Funeral Home are planned for Sunday afternoon, April 17, at 3:00 PM with Dr. Ron McCaskill officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at 2:00 PM at the funeral home. The services will conclude in the Chapel. Serving as casketbearers will be Luke Spooner, Reuben Roberts, Shelton Spooner, Randy Spooner, Tommy Spooner, and Wade Spooner.