By Renee O’Quinn
Getting married is the easy part. Staying married however is not all that easy. People break up and get divorced all the time. A successful marriage just doesn’t happen, there is work involved by both the husband and the wife. Working at it all the time, it’s not a miracle, it is the result of two individuals who have invested their time and soul into a strong marriage relationship for which Jean and Bill Spell, who have been married for 62 years, can attest to.
BILL AND JEAN SPELL TODAY
Spell couple married for 62 years
The couple believes that the most important key for a long-lasting marriage is having God at the center and prayer. They were married in 1950 on Feb. 18. Jean was born and attended school in Blackshear. After Jean finished school she moved to Baxley and lived with her sister, Hazel Johnson, which was right next door to Bill’s house. Since they lived right next door to each other Jean and Bill saw each other every day.
They met each other while working in the tobacco field. Jean’s job was stringing tobacco and Bill’s job was cropping. They would walk to the movies together. A close relationship grew; they fell in love, and about a year later they got married.
Bill asked Jean to marry him while they were watching a movie.
They married at the pastoral at the old Baxley Church of God that was located on Tippins Street.
Jean was 15 years old and Bill was 22 when they got married.
They had six children, Gerald, Jeanette, Linda, Michelle, Steve and Amy.
Bill Spell was born in Baxley and worked as a beekeeper for over 40 years. He was the owner of Spell’s Bee Company.
Jean began working after the children were grown as a seamstress and worked for 27 years at Ship-N-Shore.
It is important for a wife to take care of her husband. Jean’s homemade banana pudding is the secret recipe for staying married for 62 years.
“I make it by scratch, said Jean. I don’t use whipped topping I use egg whites. Seriously though we got through difficulties by praying.
We didn’t stay mad at each other. We always prayed before we jumped into anything.”
Bill and Jean would agree that a good marriage is the result of lots of compromises by both the husband and the wife and that being obstinate and rigid certainly aren’t positives for a good marriage.
“We’ve had our fusses and ups and downs. It takes give and take by both. We were busy raising our children.
“If a man cares about his wife and children then he will not leave. Children need a mother and a father,” Bill stated.
Jean gave this advice to young people about having a long lasting marriage, “Love one another, put God in everything you do, pray and pray about everything and make sure you enjoy one another.
When you go to the mall together let him sit on the bench and you get his wallet and go shopping,” she said with a big laugh.
“I always said I like to make money and she likes to spend it,” Bill stated with a laugh. An important thing that has helped to hold this couple together is laughter. They make each other laugh and they always seem to find things to laugh about.
A deep love and concern for their children has always been a strong force in holding their marriage together. Once their grandchildren came along their family bond was even more greatly reinforced.
Jean loves going to church, enjoys working in her yard in her flowers and loves spending time with family.
“I use to sew. I made all my kids clothes when they were growing up. I don’t sew anymore,” recalled Jean
They would to go fishing at the Altamaha River. “When Bill would get through with work we would grab some worms, go to the river and jump in the boat and fish,” Jean stated.
They fished for catfish and white perch.
Not much has changed since the couple first met. For more than 60 years they still love spending time together.
“We are best friends. Where he wants to go I usually want to go too. We like to go to Brunswick in the summer. Our daughter and her family live there. We like to visit them and go to the peer,” Jean said.
The Spell’s have always enjoyed taking trips. They even traveled to Italy and it was a memorable experience. About five years ago, the couple enjoyed a trip to the Bahamas with the Young at Heart Group of Baxley Church of God, where they are members.
Jean gave Bill a jacket. Bill gave Jean money. They watched television together is how this couple celebrated Valentine’s Day recently.
Their family is their pride and joy. In addition to their six children they are blessed with 15 wonderful grandchildren, 20 terrific great-grandchildren and one precious great-great-grandchild.
It is evident that God had a hand in it all. Bill and Jean’s long-lasting marriage is proof that the family that prays together stays together.
They met each other while working in the tobacco field. Jean’s job was stringing tobacco and Bill’s job was cropping. They would walk to the movies together. A close relationship grew; they fell in love, and about a year later they got married.
Bill asked Jean to marry him while they were watching a movie.
They married at the pastoral at the old Baxley Church of God that was located on Tippins Street.
Jean was 15 years old and Bill was 22 when they got married.
They had six children, Gerald, Jeanette, Linda, Michelle, Steve and Amy.
Bill Spell was born in Baxley and worked as a beekeeper for over 40 years. He was the owner of Spell’s Bee Company.
Jean began working after the children were grown as a seamstress and worked for 27 years at Ship-N-Shore.
It is important for a wife to take care of her husband. Jean’s homemade banana pudding is the secret recipe for staying married for 62 years.
“I make it by scratch, said Jean. I don’t use whipped topping I use egg whites. Seriously though we got through difficulties by praying.
We didn’t stay mad at each other. We always prayed before we jumped into anything.”
Bill and Jean would agree that a good marriage is the result of lots of compromises by both the husband and the wife and that being obstinate and rigid certainly aren’t positives for a good marriage.
“We’ve had our fusses and ups and downs. It takes give and take by both. We were busy raising our children.
“If a man cares about his wife and children then he will not leave. Children need a mother and a father,” Bill stated.
Jean gave this advice to young people about having a long lasting marriage, “Love one another, put God in everything you do, pray and pray about everything and make sure you enjoy one another.
When you go to the mall together let him sit on the bench and you get his wallet and go shopping,” she said with a big laugh.
“I always said I like to make money and she likes to spend it,” Bill stated with a laugh. An important thing that has helped to hold this couple together is laughter. They make each other laugh and they always seem to find things to laugh about.
A deep love and concern for their children has always been a strong force in holding their marriage together. Once their grandchildren came along their family bond was even more greatly reinforced.
Jean loves going to church, enjoys working in her yard in her flowers and loves spending time with family.
“I use to sew. I made all my kids clothes when they were growing up. I don’t sew anymore,” recalled Jean
They would to go fishing at the Altamaha River. “When Bill would get through with work we would grab some worms, go to the river and jump in the boat and fish,” Jean stated.
They fished for catfish and white perch.
BILL AND JEAN SPELL IN 1952
“We are best friends. Where he wants to go I usually want to go too. We like to go to Brunswick in the summer. Our daughter and her family live there. We like to visit them and go to the peer,” Jean said.
The Spell’s have always enjoyed taking trips. They even traveled to Italy and it was a memorable experience. About five years ago, the couple enjoyed a trip to the Bahamas with the Young at Heart Group of Baxley Church of God, where they are members.
Jean gave Bill a jacket. Bill gave Jean money. They watched television together is how this couple celebrated Valentine’s Day recently.
Their family is their pride and joy. In addition to their six children they are blessed with 15 wonderful grandchildren, 20 terrific great-grandchildren and one precious great-great-grandchild.
It is evident that God had a hand in it all. Bill and Jean’s long-lasting marriage is proof that the family that prays together stays together.
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