Johnnie M. Spence's Obituary
Johnnie M. Spence, 78, of Chattanooga, passed away Saturday, April 4, 2026, at her residence. She was born on Wednesday, December 17, 1947, in Chattanooga Tennessee to the late John Frank Doyle, Sr. and Florida Doyle. She was the second child of a total of five children and the second of three girls. She went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at her residence.
She was a 1965 graduate of Riverside High School and received her LPN at Cleveland State Community College, as well as an RN license at Chattanooga State Community College. Her career in nursing included Blue Cross Blue Shield, Home Health Care agencies, and Ask a Nurse at Erlanger Hospital, amongst other healthcare agencies, and Head Skilled Care Nurse at NHC of Chattanooga for nearly two decades, from where she retired.
Her church home was First Baptist Church of Ooltewah, of which she loved where she served as a faithful member of the mother's board, usher and kitchen committee.
She is loved by many and never met a stranger. She loved God and made it known that He was the source and strength of her life. Her two favorite scriptures were Psalms 118:24 and Psalms 23, which she recited every morning and meditated upon throughout her day. She was a “go to” for her wisdom of God and the Bible. She had a real sense of compassion and understanding for people and was a woman of her word.
Johnnie loved family gatherings. Her wealth was in God and family. She loved her children and grandchildren and leaves a legacy with her children and grandchildren of Christian morals.
She instilled survival skills by showing her children and grandchildren how to sew and to plant, grow and prepare foods.
Johnnie was preceded in death by her sister, Genevieve Doyle; her parents, John Frank Doyle, Sr. and Florida Doyle; her previous husband, Lloyd Mathis; her twin niece and nephew, Kimberly and Tommy Lee Doyle; her nephews, Demetrius Doyle and Denzel Doyle.
Johnnie leaves behind a legacy and precious memories through her husband, Victor Allen Spence of Chattanooga; sons, Theodore Jackson, Jr., Jerome (Brenda) Jackson, and Michael Maxwell (L’nette) Jackson, all of Chattanooga, Brandon Mathis of Nashville, TN, William Alan (Maria) Kincaid of Las Vegas, NV, Victor (LaDawn) Spence, Carlos (Seleste) Jackson, and Jerrod Jackson, all of Chattanooga; daughters, Latoya Whiteside of Chattanooga and Veronica Hill of Washington, DC; grandchildren, Jerome O.Jackson, Jr., Mykel Jackson, Jada Jackson, and Katina Jackson, all of Chattanooga; brothers, John Frank (Dianne) Doyle, Jr., and Horace (Tjuania) Doyle, both of Chattanooga; sister, Katrina (Charles) Clark of Chattanooga; nephews, Darius (Dama) Doyle of Atlanta, GA, and Johnny (Kelli) Doyle of Dalton; nieces, Keesha McClain, Shellie (Derrick) Shaw, and Ahzia Smith, all of Chattanooga; and a host of in-laws, great grandchildren, great-nephews and nieces and friends.
Johnnie will lie-in-state on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at Taylor Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 12:00 noon in the chapel. Burial in Highland Memorial Gardens.
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