James H. Spence passed away on July 3, 2023. He was born May 16, 1927, in Buffalo Al. After serving in the Army in Occupied Japan, 1946-47, he attended and graduated Auburn University in 1951. He spent 32 years in public education. He taught at various schools in Chattooga County GA and in 1960 was elected County School Superintendent where he served 12 years. He is noted for his key roles in the integration and the consolidation of the Chattooga County School System. In 1972 he was employed by the Whitfield County Schools as Associate Supt where he was responsible for the planning, construction, and consolidation of two new comprehensive high schools. Pupil transportation and the maintenance of the county schools was also part of his job. He worked there until 1981 when he retired from the GA school systems. After retirement, he was employed by GA Farm Bureau in Whitfield County as an agent. He worked there until age 65 and retired from that position. He was then asked to help build cabinets for Habitat for Humanity houses. He was hooked and continued volunteering to help schedule and supervise volunteers, securing materials, securing and scheduling building specialists (plumbers, electricians, etc.) as needed. He stayed with Habitat as a Volunteer and later a Board member until they had constructed 50 homes in the Dalton area. In the community, he donated blood on a regular basis after learning that his blood type was the universal donor. At home, he continued in his workshop building furniture and other items (ie bird houses, food trays, step stools). He also had a big garden, full of vegetables and flowers. He enjoyed watching things grow and enjoying home grown vegetables and fruit. He spent many happy hours with his wife, Rethia Juanita Camp Spence. They were able to complete their life goal to visit all 50 states plus a few countries. They were members at Five Springs UMC in Dalton from 1972 until their deaths. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Rethia Camp Spence, his parents, John Morgan Spence and Edna McCarley Spence, his brother, John Morgan Spence, and sisters, Jean Spence Nunn and Mary Spence Hughes. He is survived by his daughter, Janice Spence Wilmot; his son, James W. "Bill" Spence (Teresa Rollins) and sisters, Lena Spence and Sara Spence Slagle. He has many beloved nieces and nephews. A visitation from 12pm to 2 pm EDST followed by a memorial service at 2pm EDST will be held at Five Springs UMC on 7/7/23. There will be a visitation at 11 am EDST followed by a memorial and interment service at 12pm EDST at Fredonia Methodist Church, near Five Points AL, on 7/8/2023 where he will be laid to rest by his wife. Messages of Comfort can be sent to the family at Ponders Funeral Home. The family requests that flowers be omitted, and memorial contributions be made to Five Springs UMC (Mail checks to Robert Redwine, 261 Tilton Rd SE, Dalton GA), Fredonia Methodist Church Cemetery Fund (Mail to Crystal Lashley, Co Rd 222, Five Points AL 36855) or Lebanon Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund, Lafayette AL (Mail to Linda Hodge, P.O. Box 63, Five Points, AL 36855).

Arrangements by Ponders Melrose Chapel, 138 Melrose Drive, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, 706.226.4002www.selectedindependentfuneralhomes.org and www.ogr.org.