Mary Jane Upchurch

March 31, 1925 - October 2, 2021

Mary Jane Upchurch, beloved friend, mother, grandmother, and counselor, passed away at 96 years young on October 2, 2021. She was known for her sense of humor and compassion, evident even in her final years. Mary Jane enjoyed sharing stories of her childhood on the cattle ranch where she grew up in Windsor, Colorado. As an only child, she became fiercely independent, a quality that would stick with her throughout her life. Mary Jane’s passion for education sparked when she was a substitute teacher at Headland High School in East Point, where her children also attended. She had 5 children, an education within itself, and while raising her family with her late husband Jim, she enrolled at Georgia State University and earned a BA in education. She began her teaching career at College Park High School. Mary Jane went on to earn a Masters in Counseling, starting her career as a high school guidance counselor at Roswell High School. She accompanied hundreds of students in their education, with special attention to those who were left behind by the school system at the time. In her time as an educator, she accompanied students on international trips that fed her love of travel. She was more than an educator, she was a respected friend and confidant to students. Mary Jane embraced her family as a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She’ll join the party in heaven along with her husband Jim and daughter Susan. Those who will keep her light shining on earth include her children, Carol Cobb (Don), Nancy Dumbleton (Butch), Mike (Melanie Kidd), and Mary Ann Laurens (Reid); her grandchildren Laura, Jeff, Brandon, Jenn, Blake, Drew, Janie, John, Matthew, and Kate, and four great-grandchildren; and innumerable friends, students, and rescue dogs whose lives were changed by her empathy. Diligent yoga practice kept her sharp and active until dementia affected her in her later years. Her love of nature and the divine presence she felt in it never wavered. Visitation and a memorial service for Mary Jane will be Friday, October 8, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., respectively, at the chapel at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home and Crematory, 180 Church Street, Marietta, GA 30060. The service will be live-streamed and later downloaded to this tribute page for viewing. Please look under Photos and Videos. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Angels Among Us Animal Rescue, http://www.angelsamongusanimalrescue.org/donations.html or Chattahoochee Nature Center, https://www.chattnaturecenter.org/support-us/donate/.