Dr. John Harris Jayne

Dr. John Harris Jayne passed away peacefully at home on April 30, 2026. He was born on October 24, 1932 in Fairfield, Alabama, the second child of Roy Prosser Jayne and Pauline Jayne. He had one brother, Thomas Roy Jayne, and one sister, Miriam Turner, who he doted on her entire life.

John attended elementary school at the old 43rd Street School with his first-grade sweetheart Mary Sue Martin, who unbeknownst to him, would later become his first wife. He graduated from Fairfield High School and went on to attend the University of Alabama, where he became the first person in his family to graduate from college. His love of learning and emphasis on the importance of education is a gift that he generously shared with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, values that will endure for generations to come.

During his last year at Alabama, he married Mary Sue Martin and enrolled in dental school. During his last year in dental school, he enrolled in a Senior Dental Student Program which led to Navy commission and active duty, including one year in Key West and two years abroad the USS Lake Champlain. While in the Navy, he and Mary Sue welcomed their first son, David, and their second son, Chris. After three years of moving, he and Mary Sue settled in Birmingham where he started practicing general dentistry in Ensley and continued serving in the Navy Reserves. After nine years of general dentistry, he returned to school to specialize in orthodontics and established his practice in Vestavia Hills. During this time, John and Mary Sue’s third child, Janice, was born. Janice was the apple of her dad’s eye from her birth until his death. After Mary Sue died of a terminal illness, John left the Navy Reserves to focus on raising his children while continuing his orthodontic practice.

John later married his second wife Claudia, and treated her two children, Gay and Butch, as his own. Claudia was a constant companion and supported him in all aspects of his life until her passing in 2017.

In orthodontics, John found both his passion and his calling. He often said, “with a clean face, nice smile, and shined shoes, you can get many doors open in life.” He found deep fulfillment in creating more than 15,000 beautiful smiles throughout the Over the Mountain community. It seems that everyone in Birmingham knows someone who had their teeth straightened by Dr. Jayne. He employed over fourteen team members in his practice who dubbed themselves the “Jaynegang,” and he treated them like family.

One of his favorite ways to give back to the community was coordinating dental care for children from the Big Oak Ranch and the Alabama Sheriffs Boys’ Ranch. Throughout the course of his career, he helped more than 3,500 children receive orthodontic care- free of charge- from Birmingham orthodontists. His love and support of the mission of the Big Oak Ranch continued throughout his life.

Following his retirement, he enjoyed spending his time at his lake house on Lake Martin, the Business Men’s Sunday School class at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, fishing, Alabama football, traveling and making homemade ice cream. “Projects” were one of his favorite pastimes at the lake, and it wasn’t a lake weekend without one—and his sons and sons-in-law were always enlisted to help. Another joy of retirement for both he and Claudia was their naughty English Bulldog affectionately known as Sir Cedric of Queensferry, who consumed more hot dogs and peppermints than any one dog should ever have eaten.

In 2018, he took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Dublin, Ireland; Manchester, England; and Wales with his son, daughter and son-in-law, and sister. Remarkably, they all managed to make it back in one piece despite Chris having to learn how to drive on the wrong side of the road.

John didn’t stop living until he died- persistently and frequently encouraging his children and caregivers to schedule van rides for various outings to Hamburger Heaven, Costco, Lake Martin, the circus, dance competitions, baseball games, and visits with his great-grandchildren as recently as three weeks before his passing.

He was predeceased by his parents, Roy Prosser Jayne and Pauline Jayne; his loving first wife, Mary Sue Martin Jayne; his devoted second wife, Claudia Anne Gilliland Jayne; his brother, Thomas Roy Jayne; his sister, Miriam Turner; his oldest son, David Alan Jayne; and his great granddaughter, Lydia Anne Skinner.

He is survived by his son, John Christopher Jayne, Sr. (Cathy), his daughter, Janice Jayne Battle (Frank), his step-daughter, Gay Gilliland Skinner (Steve), his step-son, Dr. Richard Gilliland (Gretchen), twelve grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren.

The family is especially grateful to the caring and compassionate team of caregivers who took care of, spent time with, supported and loved him during the final years of his life.

Arrangements are as follows: Wednesday May 6, 2026- Shades Mountain Baptist Church- Visitation from 1:00 PM-2:00 PM with service to follow at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Big Oak Ranch.