Billy Spivey Obituary

Billy Frank Spivey CHARLESTON - It is with great sorrow and joy that we inform those who knew Billy Frank Spivey that he left us to be in the arms of Jesus Saturday, February 6, 2021. Billy was able to enjoy life to the end and died at home in the arms of his beloved wife of 61 years, Lonita Barnhill Spivey, the love of his life. Billy was born May 16, 1939 to Frank and Annie Spivey in Aynor, SC. He attended Aynor schools where he was a star athlete. He played all sports and received the most valuable player award in football his senior year. He married Lonita, his high school sweetheart, in 1960. They lived in Aynor their first five years and had three children, Mitchelle, Chris, and Deon, before moving to Charleston in 1965. He was a route salesman for Coburg Dairy until 1980, route salesman for Sunbeam Bread until 2001, then courier for MUSC Lab Services for five years where he enjoyed going to work with Lonita and hanging out in her office during his breaks. He loved serving his Lord, his family and his friends. He was a member of Ashley River Baptist for 19 years, where he served as deacon, RA leader, High School boys basketball coach, ladies softball coach, and drove the church bus. He was a charter member of Charleston Baptist Church since 1984, where he served as deacon, choir member, drove the church bus, greeted at the front door, coached ladies softball, and visited shut-ins, taking them Sunday sermons on tape or CD. In addition to coaching church softball, he also coached senior ladies softball, the Primetimers, for many years, taking his team to the National Senior Olympics at the Disney Sports Complex at Disney World in 1999 and to Baton Rouge, LA in 2001. He gave up coaching when Lonita (his shortstop, pitcher and coaching partner) shocked everyone by announcing her retirement from softball at her 70th birthday party. Then he still coached from the sidelines for many years. Billy loved to travel, always ready for any adventure Lonita planned. Together they explored almost every state. Preceding him in death are his parents, sisters Vernice Spivey and Maribel Brown and brother Ollie Spivey. Left to cherish his memory are wife, Lonita ( his Little Brown Jug), daughter Mitchelle Morrison (Michael) and son Chris (Annette) of Charleston, son Deon of Galveston, TX; Also grandchildren in Charleston, Seth Spivey (Amanda), Brooke Hiers (Thomas), Mallory Fuller (Chance) and Kendall Spivey, Melissa Mattson of Corvallis, OR, Luke Spivey of Tulsa, OK, Kyle and Haley Spivey of Atlanta. GA; Five great-grands, Adelle, Ivan and Max Mattson, Sullivan Spivey and Hunley Hiers; Very special friends adopted into the Spivey family 42 years ago, Albert and Ruth Jenkins and their children Cassie Jenkins, Amanda Marancik (Dave) and their daughter Cora of Grenada, Austin Jenkins (Katelyn) of Tallahassee, FL; Also adopted into the Spivey family, Billy and Sue Ellen Sloane and their family, and Mitchelle's godsons, Bryce and Johnathan Marihugh. He is also survived by his brother Reggie Spivey of Florence, sister Corlous Skipper of Aynor, and many nieces and nephews. Billy's earthly body was laid to rest February 7 at Greenhaven Preserve with his family participating in the green burial. It would be his wish that all his family and friends join him one day in his new home in heaven. Memorials may be made to Gideons International, Samaritan's Purse, or Charleston Baptist Church. His family has many precious memories: "He was a sweet Godly husband, father, father-in-law, gpa, softball coach to a whole bunch of us, with a great sense of humor. He loved trying to teach me 'to hit it to the fence." I never could, but loved how he would coach me and others. I remember him pitching and hitting to Lonita for hours of softball! He loved being a door greeter at church, deacon, nature, animals, the Braves, sports, the outdoors with a great 'green thumb' and he was inducted into Aynors football Hall of fame in 2019. We loved and will miss our mountain and Ridgecrest trips and great reunions! He was so dear to his wife of 61 years!" "We've buried Daddy, but he'll live on in our hearts. We'll see him again when we all get together in heaven. He was my daddy, my coach, my teacher and friend for over 60 years. He taught me how to ride a bike and repair it, how to drive a car and check the oil, and how to cut grass. He taught me how to swim and tried to teach me how to float on my back, but I never mastered that. He taught me how to play roll a bat, football and softball. He was my coach by title in softball, but he was my coach throughout my life. He was not a teacher who taught by lecturing; he taught by example. He loved and served his family. He did all with humility and love, whether it was cleaning bathrooms, washing dishes, or making breakfast. He had a servant's heart. He served his church family as a deacon. He served his family, his church family and community as long as he was able. In his later years, he served by delivering CD's of the church service to shut-ins. He followed Christ's command. "A new commandment I give you: love one another as I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35. This was my last conversion with Daddy: "Bye Daddy (blowing a kiss) I love you." (blowing a kiss) I love you the most. "I love you more.'" "My dad first taught me to love God and to be Christlike. Second he taught me to love your wife 100% of the time and he was always there for our family. We did family things together on vacation and on the weekends, beach trips, and mountain trips. We always did it as a family. Mom and Dad taught me to work hard and be a provider. I watched my dad with two jobs for a while, because he had to at the time to support my mom and us. He supported our activities and my mom going back to school and earning a doctor's degree in mathematics. He supported her 100%. He was that kind of man, which made me the kind of dad and man I am today. I can't wait to see him in heaven with a new body." "My dear grandfather went to his forever home in Heaven. As we laid his body in the ground, I was grateful for the wonderful memories I have with him. Billy Spivey was devoted to Christ first, then to his beloved wife of over 60 years, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He loved the outdoors, collecting shells, adventuring, Westerns, football, and coaching softball. Our family will certainly miss him but we have comfort in knowing he is in a better place." "Another Angel got his wings. He lived each day showing his community, church family, friends and most of all his family, what it is to live a Christian life. I love and miss my Uncle Billy." "My grandpa died at home with the woman he loved adoringly for over 60 years. He had been in decline for many years and my grandma has been taking care of him around the clock. They were both so lucky to have each other's unconditional love and to be together at the end. They met in high school. The last time I visited a few years ago, they recited their classic lines... Grandpa: I love you. Grandma: I love you more. Grandpa: I loved you first. And then they would giggle and kiss. They were in their 70s and still acting like young lovers. Many times I would find them both asleep in their bed holding hands. My grandpa was an important man in my life. He was strong yet gentle and made me feel seen, heard, and admired. He was always making jokes, silly remarks and teasing in a way that never hurt anyone's feelings. He treated my grandma like his equal and showed me what teamwork in a marriage looks like." "Grandpa was a critter lover. Every animal is his vicinity would gather around him like that scene in Snow White. He said the secret was food but I believe the animals were attracted to his gentle wonder. One of my last memories of Grandpa is walking through the neighborhood and seeing ALL the cats walk up to him. Despite his dementia he had a name for everyone of them, and knew exactly how they like to be petted. I think this man had his priorities straight in life. Grandpa was a star wide receiver in high school and I only got to see him as a coach in the church softball team. I think a good coach recognizes innate talent and believes in you no matter what. I think a good coach knows anyone can master the technique if they can learn to love learning. I think a good coach is full of wonder about how you'll do it rather than criticism about not doing it the 'right' way. I hope someday they'll put the word 'coach' in my gravestone just like Grandpa Billy." "Billy surely loved life, his Savior, his family (most especially his beloved Lonita), his friends, church, sports, and all kinds of critters. He and Lonita frequently took-in strays to provide them with comfort, safety and shelter, love and joy. That's what they did for us 43 years ago when they "took-in" a newly married young couple who moved to Charleston to attend grad school. Billy and Lonita sensed our loneliness for family so they became our family. They were there for each of our children's births, every birthday and holiday. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Granddaddy Billy and Grandma Lonita. Their example taught us how to love God, each other, our children, and others. In recent years I had several opportunities to keep Billy company when Lonita had competing obligations; I cherish those times I had with him alone. He told me of his prowess on the football field, playing and coaching softball, his special critter pets, and he delighted in telling me his and Lonita's love story. Billy inspired all that knew him and we now have a huge hole in our hearts. But just think what heaven has gained! He's there, picking out the best garden plot for Lonita's green thumb and working with his Savior, side-by-side, face-to-face." Visit our guestbook at legacy.com/obituaries/charleston