Dr. Mary Jane Caylor, great Alabama educator and Huntsville “builder,” has died and it’s hard to believe. She was a native Huntsvillian, lifelong educator, first female superintendent of city schools and a three-term member of the state board of education.

To understand the personality and confidence that made people listen to Caylor to the end, consider this. She was 81 when she died over the weekend and was 80 when she parachuted out of an airplane to celebrate her birthday. She had courage to do what she wanted, say what she wanted and always move ahead.

“Dr. Caylor was a true innovator and advocate of public education,” said Dr. Clarence Sutton, Huntsville City Schools superintendent. “Her passion for educating students, supporting teachers and staff members, and engaging the community remain hallmarks of her leadership. She paved the way and set the bar high for the direction we are going together as a school system.”

“Dr. Mary Jane Caylor was a tour de force in her work as an educator, business advocate and community leader,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said. “Forward thinking, strong-willed and effective, Dr. Caylor was never afraid to take a stand to support what she believed was right. Her compassion and dedication to our community will be missed. Our hearts go out to her family as we remember this remarkable woman and tireless advocate.”

Accomplishment, innovation, compassion and guts. Longtime friend Linda Spalla, who ran the television station WHNT before her retirement, put it another way. “We will all miss her fiery spirit!” Spalla said on Facebook.