Mary Jane Spence Staton met her savior peacefully on Monday, May 25, 2020, surrounded by her family.
Mary Jane's journey began June 30, 1935. She was number three of a family of 13 children born to the late Harry and Ileta (Goolsby) Spence. While much of her childhood was spent growing up in Buena Vista with her many siblings, her marriage to Roosevelt Staton in June of 1957 took her to live most of her life on the farm in Fairfield.
Mary Jane was an X-ray technician for Stonewall Jackson Hospital in the 1950s following high school. In 1955, she started work at the local telephone company. She spent 35 years working for the telephone company - first, Centel and eventually Sprint, as an operator and then in the office in Lexington. She retired in 1990 when Centel moved its office to Charlottesville.
She was a founding member of the ladies' auxiliary for the Fairfield First Aid. Mary Jane was a member of the Fairfield United Methodist Church and later was baptized into membership at First Brethren Church in Buena Vista.
She enjoyed travel with her sisters, visiting the cabin in Maine, drives on the Parkway, knitting, sewing and played a mean game of Rook! But, her best days were spent with her sweet grandchildren. She was known as "Mammaw" to 10 and Great Mammaw to one. She loved to spend time at the lake or on the ballfield cheering on her favorite soccer player, volleyball player, softball star, lacrosse player, baseball player or tennis player. She could often be found in the stands worrying, but proudly cheering on her favorite little wrestler. She never missed countless dance recitals for her beautiful granddaughters. She celebrated the many achievements of her grandchildren in school and in pursuit of their life goals.
Her favorite thing by far, was spent surrounded by the grandkids on the farm. They have been blessed with many sweet memories of "Camp Mammaw" at the farmhouse. It was those precious grandchildren who surrounded her in those last few days and hours and held her hand to walk her home.
Loved ones who welcomed Mary Jane home early on Monday morning along with her parents were her husband of 58 years, Roosevelt Staton; a son, Marty Sears Staton; siblings, Patsy (Spence) Staton, Peggy (Spence) Brown, Jerry Spence, Eugene Spence, Delmas Spence and Donna (Spence) Floyd.
Family surviving with some wonderful memories are her daughters, Teresa Staton Volant (Adam) of Fairfield and Tamela Staton Morgan (Kirk) of Hardy; a son, Matthew Staton (Stephanie) of South Boston; siblings, Judy (Spence) Coleman of Buena Vista, Dorothy (Spence) Coleman of Lexington, Edith (Spence) Staton of Fairfield, Billy Spence of Buena Vista, Bobby Spence of Amherst and Debbie (Spence) Clark of Englewood, Fla. Along with her pride and joy her grandchildren, Alexi Hinkley, Ashton Hendrickson, Kyle Volant, Alden Morgan, Anna Grant, Joseph Volant, Aaric Morgan, Kenley Staton, Devin Volant, Tyler Staton and great-grandson, Kade Volant.
Her family will honor her with a family service Wednesday, May 27, at 11 a.m. Family friend, Pastor Dan White will conduct the service. The family encourages you to remember Mary Jane by spending time with those you love making precious memories. Following the service the family would welcome visits from noon to 4 p.m. at the farm (984 Sterrett Road Fairfield).
Arrangements are being handled by Bolling, Grose, & Lotts Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
