- Margaret Jeane Broyles Tarpley, 62, died on July 15, 2006, at Valdosta Medical Center suddenly after an amazing fight against ovarian cancer.
She was born in Valdosta on July 24, 1943, to the late Charles E. and Margaret Johnson Broyles of Decatur while Lt. Broyles was in the Army Air Corps during World War II. In 1946, the family moved to Gordon, where Jeane attended school and graduated as STAR student and valedictorian from Wilkinson County High School. She attended Georgia Southern University where she met Charles L. Tarpley. She graduated with a BS in mathematics education in 1965 and completed her master of education with an emphasis in mathematics in 1966. Jeane was also a member of the Kappa Mu Alpha, mathematics honor society.
Jeane and Charles married in 1965 and moved to Rome in 1966, where Jeane taught high school mathematics, and Charles coached baseball and football at West Rome High School. Rome City Schools honored Mrs. Tarpley as STAR teacher in 1971 and 1972, and the Rome Jaycees gave her the Outstanding Young Educator Award in 1971. She returned to Valdosta in 1974 with husband and young son, Brad. Jeane and Charles embraced family life in Valdosta and professional life at Valdosta High School where she was once again honored by students as STAR teacher in 1990 and 2002 and by colleagues as Teacher of the Year for the Valdosta City School System in 1992. During her teaching tenure, she served as chair of the mathematics department at both school systems. With Coach Tarpley and two sons in Valdosta sports, Jeane was an avid Wildcat supporter. Her closet was full of black and gold clothes. Her allegiance expanded when son Lee played fullback for the Valdosta State University Blazers.
Mrs. Tarpley retired from full-time teaching in 2002 but continued to teach AP calculus and algebra II for the school until June 2006. More importantly, she and Charles cared for granddaughter Maggie each day. She has been a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and attended the First United Methodist Church and the Ralph Brandon Sunday School of Valdosta, Georgia. Mrs. Tarpley joined the fight against cancer by participating in the Relay for Life.
Mrs. Tarpley is survived by her husband, Charles Lee Tarpley, of Valdosta; a son and daughter-in-law, Bradley Christopher and Mary Clare Tarpley and granddaughter namesake Mary Margaret (age 3), a son, Lee Edward Tarpley and his fiance Maurie Hinson, all of Valdosta; a sister, India L. Broyles and husband Robert Shafto of Falmouth, Maine; and a brother, Charles Edward Broyles Jr. and wife Rachel of Charlotte, NC. Also surviving are her mother in law, Tillie Van Horn Tarpley of Columbia, S.C.; a brother-in-law and his spouse, Peter and Raven Tarpley of Columbia, S.C. In addition, she was loved by a large extended family.
Funeral services for Mrs. Tarpley will be held at 11 a.m. today at First United Methodist Church. The Rev. Tommy Mason will officiate. Burial will follow at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens.
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1943 - 2006 (62 years)
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