Jane McGill Pruett was born on September 25th, 1927, in Lexington, Kentucky. In 1934, her family relocated to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where she grew up and later attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
By 1948, she met and married Donald Spencer, Sr. of Louisville, Kentucky. They lived in Louisville for a short time before moving to Greenville, South Carolina. Later a transfer moved them to Atlanta, Georgia, where she lived for fifty years, with most of those years in Roswell. While in Roswell, Jane met and married her second husband, Al Pruett.
Jane was an avid Republican activist, starting her volunteer work in Greenville, South Carolina, in the early '50s. She was passionately involved in all branches of politics, from precinct work to operating as a delegate for two National Republican Conventions. Jane also served on the Executive Committee of the Georgia Republican Party. Jane worked closely with prominent U.S. Senator and Director of the U.S. Peace Corps, Paul Coverdell, and U.S. Senator Johnny Isaacson, who supported her in getting elected to eight years of public service on the Roswell City Council. In addition to her vibrant political career, she enjoyed volunteering with the boy scouts, partaking in multiple garden clubs, and was a devoted bridge player at the local clubs.
In 1997, Jane fell in love with Fripp Island, South Carolina, built a beautiful home, and spent her remaining years enjoying the Lowcountry lifestyle. She loved participating in the Fripp Island Sea Turtle Patrol, walking her dogs on the beach, and sunset golf-cart rides with her grandchildren. Jane enjoyed bridge and socializing with Fripp friends, especially at her annual Derby party. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Beaufort.
Jane is preceded in death by her parents, Laura Love and Paul Early McGill (Holmes Beach, FL), her daughter Sarah Jane Spencer (Greenville, SC), and her sister Jeanne McGill Nichols (Indianapolis, IN). She is survived by her oldest sister, June McGill Wyneken of Venice, FL, four of her children Donald Carroll Spencer, Jr. (David Warren) of Roswell, GA.; William McGill Spencer of Lilburn, GA.; Paul McGill Spencer (Kathy Spencer) of Ellijay, GA.; Laura Guynn Morrow (Michael Morrow) of Buford, GA, her nine grandchildren: Kathryn Love Teeple, John Farrell Spencer, Byron Early Spencer, Emily Comfort Kopp, Britta Love Spencer, Hannah Elizabeth Campion, Taylor Jane Smith, Gabriel Walker Cronin, and Benjamin McGill Spencer;14 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Jane is also survived by one of her closest friends, Twana Hays, who was alongside family in Jane's final days.
There will be a celebration of Jane at 5pm on May 7th at the Fripp Island Community Centre, Kentucky Derby style, with hats, mint juleps, and singing My Old Kentucky Home. A memorial service will be at 11am on May 8th at the Fripp Island All Faiths Chapel, followed by an interment at the Cooper Columbarium. Flowers may be sent to the residence or, in place of flowers, donations to the Fripp Island Turtle Program or the Fripp Island Community Centre.
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