Obituary of Mary Speaks

Mary Jane Speaks Mary Jane Christie Speaks, of Charlotte, NC, passed away at home on Thursday, September 29, 2011. She was 48 years old. Mary Jane Christie was born in Statesville, NC on December 10, 1962, to Jerel Dean and the late Douglas Perry ?Dub? Christie. Raised in Mooresville, she graduated from Mooresville High School before attending East Carolina University for three years. She graduated from University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. A confident Jane went to work for Food Lion, and later began a career as a grocery retail broker with Atlas Marketing Company, later working for Acosta Sales and Marketing. Shortly after college, she caught the eye of David Speaks and a 6 year courtship would parlay into an 18 year marriage. Jane would complete her career as a Retail Development Supervisor over the Eastern Region of eleven states for Pactiv Corporation for 10 years preceding her death. Jane developed a love of travel from her late father. The family would often pack the car and leave for a day trip to some undetermined destination, known only to Dub. That love of travel would follow Jane through her corporate climb, spending many days on the road, doing what she loved. Time away from work found Jane and David taking a much deserved Caribbean cruise. Their annual get-a-ways consisted of sun, fun, snorkelling, and Jane?s passion for cooking, especially replicating the many amazing meals that she and David discovered. Jane was also a classically trained singer and performed with the Nova Voce ensemble, for several years. This past February brought great sorrow for Jane with the passing of her dear sister, Bonnie Johnson. Although born 22 months apart, Jane and Bonnie were often mistaken for twins. Jane adored Bonnie and looked up to her older sister. Both girls were devoted to Tarheel basketball and Braves baseball. Their zeal for sports was only surpassed by their zest for life. With sorrow filled hearts, Jane will be sorely missed by David, her family, her friends at the Tega Cay & Baxter YMCA, and her Bluetick coonhound, Daisy. Jane was preceded in death by her father, Perry Douglas ?Dub? Christie and her sister, Bonnie Johnson. In addition to her husband, David, Jane is survived by her mother, Jerel Dean Christie, of Pineville; step-sons Scott Speaks, of Troutman, Christopher Speaks, of Charlotte; granddaughter, Pearl Speaks; and brother-in-law, Harry Johnson, of Charlotte. A service to celebrate Jane?s life will be held in the chapel at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 11:00AM, Saturday, October 8. The Reverend Jeff Gardner will officiate. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family respectively requests that donations be made to: American Red Cross, 2425 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28203 and Ft. Mill Branch YMCA, 857 Promenade Walk, Fort Mill, SC 29708.