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Mary Jane Davis

Jan 14, 2022

Mary Jane Small Davis, 83, of Spring Arbor of Winchester, Virginia, formerly of Charles Town and Shepherdstown, died Friday, Jan. 7, 2022 at Blue Ridge Hospice Inpatient Care Center in Winchester.

Mary Jane was born March 23, 1938 in Martinsburg, WV, the third child and only daughter of the late William and Grace Small.

She was a graduate of Martinsburg High School and Shepherd College (now University). At Shepherd, where Mary Jane earned a BA in Elementary Education, she was a member of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority and reigned as Homecoming Queen in 1958. Later in life, she supported the University’s Foundation as a member of the Scarborough Society and by establishing a scholarship for education students. Her teaching career started in Berkeley County, continued in Newport, RI, and later resumed in Jefferson County where she spent 30 years in the school system, first at Millville School and then at South Jefferson Elementary School. Mary Jane relished teaching first grade, and teaching a child how to read never failed to thrill her.

Mary Jane was a long-time member of Zion Episcopal Church and Delta Kappa Gamma Society.

Mary Jane is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Anne and Dave Strider of Charles Town, two grandsons, David Strider of New York, NY, and Joseph Strider (Charlotte) of New York, NY, and a granddaughter, Susan Strider Copen (Mike) of Walkersville, MD, along with two great-grandsons, Jackson and Parker Copen.

In addition to her parents, Mary Jane was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, James McKinley Davis, and two brothers, Dr Donald Small of Cambridge, OH, and Howard Small of Hagerstown, MD.

Once again, the family is most grateful to Blue Ridge Hospice for the care, comfort, and compassion they provided in Mary Jane’s last days. In lieu of flowers, please be generous with your local Hospice.

A Memorial Service will be announced at a later date.

Arrangements are by the Melvin T Strider Colonial Funeral Home, Charles Town.

Please sign the online guestbook and view her obituary at www.mtstrider.com.