Doris Spencer Jarrett, 92, of Casters Branch Road, Eatonton, Georgia, passed away peacefully at her residence, surrounded by her family on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026.
Born in Madison, South Carolina, to Ray and Virginia Spencer on Aug. 22, 1933, Doris Jenell Spencer was the second born of seven children. She was raised on the family farm and was introduced to hard work at an early age. There, she helped care for her siblings, worked the fields, and tended the livestock until graduating from Cleveland High School in 1951, when she was the class valedictorian.
She married James (Jimmy) Walter Jarrett of Toccoa in 1952, and after Jimmy served 3 years in the United States Army, he was employed by Georgia Power Company. After the birth of their sons, Jimmy (1962) and Donald (1964), they moved to Eatonton, and their youngest son, Walter, was born (1971).
She and Jimmy were married for 69 years and would spend the rest of their lives in their home in Putnam County on Lake Sinclair.
Doris was a woman of strong Christian faith, well-known in the Eatonton/Putnam County community, where she remained active at the First Presbyterian Church of Eatonton and supported and helped start Gatewood Schools, as well as many school functions and activities throughout all the years with her three sons. Four of her seven grandchildren attended there.
She spent summers tending the large gardens, and suppers always consisted of a variety of vegetables from them. She always canned enough to last until next summer as well. Blackberries were another summertime favorite, and she would always take advantage of these, picking 48 quarts one summer. A cobbler or two and countless jars of blackberry jelly were the norm.
Anyone who ever sat at her table was aware of her skills in the kitchen, and if anyone left hungry, it was their own fault. Her baking was as good as it gets, and while many people had a favorite of something she made, her children and grandchildren, and anyone else lucky enough to have ever had it, would claim her chocolate layer cake to be the best, hands down. She was still churning those out as recently as this past December at 92 years old.
Quilting, which she learned from her mother (Granny), and knitting and crocheting, which she learned from her mother-in-law (Mammy), were things she enjoyed doing and excelled at. She also had a knack for creating things with natural materials from the property she lived on, such as corn shuck dolls and Christmas wreaths, to name a couple.
She was the epitome of a homemaker, and she loved it.
Nothing made her happier than being surrounded by her family, and her heart was happiest when giving something to someone, especially when it was something she had made.
Her greatest gift to all was love, and that was evident to her husband, her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, and all of those she called friends.
She is survived by her sons and daughters- in-law, Donald Jarrett (Donna Price) of Eatonton, Jimmy Jarrett (Wendi) of Monroe and Walter Jarrett (Lori) of Eatonton; grandchildren, Devereaux and Randi Jarrett, Andrew and Anna Jarrett, Jessica and Nick Bryant, Sarah and Connor Newton, Makanna Jarrett, Walt Jarrett, Joe Jarrett and Case Price; great-grandchildren, Hudson, Harrison and Evelyn; sister, Bonnie Smith of Toccoa; sisterin- law, Fran Jarrett of Toccoa.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Walter Jarrett; her siblings, James Claude Spencer, Queena Marcengill, Muriel Cleland, Elizabeth Stowe, and Betty Jean Litaker; and her brothers-in-law, Frank Litaker, Tyrus Smith, and Gary Jarrett.
Graveside services were held Monday, Feb. 23, 2 p.m. at Tugaloo Presbyterian Church Cemetery with The Reverend Bill Kitchen officiating. Sons and grandsons served as pallbearers. Edgar Williamson and Louis Sizer served as honorary pallbearers. The family received friends at Acree-Davis Funeral Home on Monday from noon until 1:30 p.m.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.acree-davisfh.com.
The family will appreciate flowers from those who wish to send them, but for those who would like a different tribute, the family has set up a Tree Memorial in honor of Doris Spencer Jarrett.
Any donation to this memorial fund will go directly to tree planting on the Jarrett property in Putnam County, in her honor, as a lasting tribute for future generations.
Donations for the Tree Memorial may be made by PayPal and sent to: merriams_2000@yahoo. com; or by check made out to Donald D. Jarrett and mailed to Donald D. Jarrett, 866 Dennis Station Road, Eatonton, Georgia 31024. Please include “Tree Memorial” in the note section on PayPal or on the check memo.
Acree-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements for Mrs. Doris Spencer Jarrett.