Jayne McCurdy Bennett, 84, of Glennville, formally of Jesup, was welcomed into her eternal reward August 27, 2024.  She was the second of four children born to W. G and Virginia Surrency McCurdy.  She graduated from Glennville High School in 1958 and attended Georgia Southern College to major in math education.  At first, she was intimidated being one of the few females in her math class, but with the encouragement of Dr. Bagley she completed her degree in Math Education and began her first teaching job at Bradwell Institute in Hinesville.  After two years, she enrolled in her Master's degree study at the University of South Carolina, where she met Gamecock quarterback, Buddy Bennett.  The two were married in 1964 and lived a very mobile life as Buddy "chased that oblong ball" all over the southeast.  While her five children were young, Jayne paused her teaching career and became a homemaker.  She was an excellent seamstress and made much of her children's clothing.  She also kept a garden and canned vegetables & jellies for her family.  As a product of the depression, she wasted nothing.  Even into her eighties, she was picking up every pear that fell from her tree and making pear relish or giving them to her family and friends.

Jayne continued her teaching career at Wayne County High.  She touched many lives and encouraged young girls to pursue their dreams, inspiring them from her own personal experiences.   After retirement, she was a faithful caregiver to her mother and later to her husband, Buddy.

In 2016 she moved back to Glennville.  There, she remained active and faithful to her "Silver Sneakers" exercise class, the Tuesday morning Ladies Bible Study at Pineview Baptist Church, her beloved JOY Sunday school class and her childhood church, First Baptist Church of Glennville.  Early mornings you would find her at her dining table reading her Bible and praying.  In the late afternoons, you could find her on her lawn mower or working in her vegetable garden.  She leaves behind a Proverbs 31 Woman legacy for her friends and family.

Jayne is predeceased by her parents and husband of 52 years; a younger sister, Joy McCurdy; two brothers and sisters–in–law Jimmy (Janice) McCurdy, Joe (Ann) McCurdy; and a nephew, Lee McCurdy.

She is survived by her daughter Jan (Bert) Oliver of Glennville; sons, Dr. Richard (Maggie) Bennett of Gainesville, Stetson (Jennifer) Bennett of Blackshear, John (Misty) Bennett of Gray, and Dr. William (Mary) Bennett of Rome; sisters-in-law, Anita Bennett of Gainesville, Charlotte (Jimmy) Tillman of Maggie Valley, NC, and Jean (Joe) Cunningham of Jesup.  She also leaves behind 18 grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren, one great grandson and a host of nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Life services will be held 3:00 p.m., Friday, August 30, 2024 from Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home with Rev. Shon Cunningham officiating. Interment will follow in the Little Creek Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be her family.

Family will receive friends from 2:00-3:00 p.m.at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home prior to services.

Memorials may be made to Little Creek Cemetery, 5027 Little Creek Road, Jesup, GA 31546.

The family is forever grateful for the care given to Jayne by Sibley, Mary, Tonya, Tameka, and Ogeechee Area Hospice staff along with Dr. Paul Thompson and Kelly Daus, PAC.

Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home of Jesup is in charge of arrangements.