Jane McSpadden Genette Twist

Jane McSpadden Genette Twist passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 16th, surrounded by her loving family and caregivers. Jane was born in Memphis on June 22, 1930, and was a life-long Memphian. Jane also spent her summers on the South Carolina coast where her parents, Lawrence and Carolyn McSpadden, owned a beach front hotel, The Myrtle Shores, in Myrtle Beach. Jane learned many skills while working at the hotel during the summer months. She was the ultimate hostess, cooking, greeting and entertaining guests, and helping manage the hotel and restaurant and inviting friends to join her for sun and fun in the sand.
Jane attended the Memphis "Training School' as a child, and graduated from Miss Hutchison School. She attended Holton Arms in Washington, DC, and graduated from Southwestern College (now Rhodes College) here in Memphis.
After college, Jane married her first love, Sidney Wilson Genette, Jr. at Calvary Episcopal Church. They first moved to Boston where she worked at the Harvard library while Sidney earned his MBA at Harvard. Upon graduation they moved back to Memphis and proceeded to start a family and became very active in church and their community.
Community commitments were many including the Junior League of Memphis, The LeBonheur Club and The Tuesday Study Club. Jane was also very active in supporting Sidney in his business and political endeavors, relocating the family to Washington DC while Sidney managed congressman George Grider's office. Tragically, Sidney died in 1987 in a glider plane accident. They were married for 34 years.
A renaissance woman, in the early 60's she discovered yoga, meditation, vegetarian cooking and running with her Labrador Retriever which she continued throughout her life. When she was 80 years old she proceeded to take a course at the University of Memphis on Italian Art and Architecture and headed back to Italy one last time !
At Calvary Episcopal Church, Jane served as President of the Episcopal Church Women, was a member of the Altar Guild, and taught Sunday School. She cooked soup for Soup Sundays which her husband Sidney helped start.
Her favorite time of year was the Lenten season where she spent many hours at the Waffle Shop serving as hostess, waitress, and waffle maker. Jane was a gourmet cook honing her skills by cooking with renowned chefs Giuliano Bugialli in Italy, Patricia Wells in France, Julia Child in Memphis, and attended the Memphis Culinary Institute when she was 66!
Her passion for people and cooking, combined with her entrepreneurial skills, led her with three other partners to open Diane's restaurant in 1975 at the top of the Union Planters Bank building at 100 N. Main. It became a very popular downtown lunch spot.
After 20 years in business, Jane closed Diane's with a final party to celebrate her engagement to her second love, John Twist. Jane and John were married in Val Fex Switzerland and for 18 years spent their married life celebrating with their children and grandchildren and traveling the world. John passed away in 2010.
After John's passing, Jane continued an active life at Trezevant Manor, becoming the unofficial Social Chairman. She made a point of welcoming new arrivals with a cocktail party at her apartment. She was an active participant in everything offered at Trezevant.
Jane is survived by her four children : Sidney Genette (Jayne), Jane Slatery (Charles), Lucy McDougall (Mac), and Madeline Genette. She is also survived by seven grandchildren : Julian Genette, Lawrence Genette, Amy Brown, Beth Lawrence, Kyle Slatery, Wil Slatery, and Jack Slatery and and seven great grandchildren.She also leaves her stepdaughters Jenny Twist Smith (Graham) and Nancy Twist Sienknecht, plus step-granddaughters, Madeline Lanigan and Jillian Smith, plus nephew Randy Smith and his sons Will and Jack. Jane was predeceased by her brother Larry McSpadden of Gastonia, North Carolina and leaves his four children Malcolm, Laura, Doug, and Marion.
We are grateful for her loving caregivers Tomeika Levy, Tonya Jenkins, Erika Levy, Leona Hayes, Debra Walls and Dee Thomas.
Jane's life will be celebrated with an 11am service at Calvary Episcopal Church on Tuesday, January 21st. The family requests that memorials be sent to Church Health, Calvary Episcopal Church, or St. George's Independent School.