Mary Jane Hayden Wells

Mary Jane Wells, "Mama Jane," 93, widow of Ronald K. Wells, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. Mary Jane was born in Tecumseh, MI, and was the daughter of the late Perry and Elizabeth Hayden. When she was a teenager, she accepted the Lord's call on her life to Christian service. Mary Jane attended Wheaton College in Chicago for two years and then met and married Ronald Wells. They both attended and graduated from Asbury College in Lexington, KY. Together they served churches in full time music ministry in Kentucky, Texas, and Spartanburg- arriving in 1968 to serve First Baptist Church. As an accomplished soloist and pianist, she taught voice and piano in her home for 60+ years, and at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX. Ronald and Mary Jane also had the opportunity to serve in South Africa to teach the local people to develop music ministries in their churches. After leaving FBC Spartanburg in 1990, she and Ronald trained, directed, and traveled with the India Children's Choir, sponsored by Bibles for the World. Under their direction they presented over 900 concerts in the United States, singing the musical Ronald wrote entitled "Headhunters to Hearthunters". When Ronald's health demanded that they return home to Spartanburg, they became very involved again at FBC Spartanburg working alongside Steve Skinner, who still serves as the Minister of Music. A loving mother and grandmother, Mary Jane is survived by one daughter, Deborah Kay Wells Hendon; one son, David Kenneth Wells and his wife, Angie; five grandchildren, Joshua Wells and his wife, Amanda Burke Wells, Lori Hendon Manning and her husband, Tim, Robin Hendon Watts and her husband, Lt. Colonel David Watts, Jonathan Wells, Brian Kohut, and Trey Hendon his wife, Leslie Harmon Hendon; thirteen great grandchildren; one sister; one brother; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a son in-law, Pierce Hendon; two brothers; and one sister. The family will receive friends Monday, November 2nd, 4-6PM at Dunbar Funeral Home. A celebration of her life will be held Wednesday, November 4th, 2:00PM at First Baptist Church Spartanburg with a live stream available at fbs.org or facebook.com/firstbaptistspartanburg. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Spartanburg, Music Department or the Mission Impact Ministries, 250 E. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302.