John Davidson Spinks Jr.

SPINKS WINSTON-SALEM John Davidson Spinks Jr. John Davidson Spinks Jr., (1250 Arbor Road, Arbor Acres, Winston-Salem, NC) died Monday, May 24, 2010. He was born July 16, 1924, in Winston Salem, the son of John D. and Sarah Boals Spinks. John was a graduate of R. J. Reynolds High School and attended N. C. State College before enlisting in the Air Corps, where he served three years during World War II. After the war, he transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he majored in journalism and was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity. After college, John worked as a reporter and editor of several North Carolina city newspapers in Greenville, Raleigh, and Winston-Salem. In 1956, Mr. Spinks joined the McLean Trucking Company of Winston-Salem as director of employee communications. During this time, he was actively involved in the program, The Voice of America. In 1964, he began a career in public relations with the firm of Long, Haymes & Carr Advertising and in 1975, joined with Booke & Company (now AON Corporation) where he was vice president of Booke Communications. After retiring in 1987, he conducted his own public relations firm for several years thereafter. Mr. Spinks was a member and later president of the American Association of Industrial Editors. He was an accredited member and then president of the North Carolina chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Mr. Spinks founded the Tar Heel Chapter of PRSA which in 1993, established an annual award in his name, recognizing a local member for their meritorious service in the field of public relations. Mr. Spinks was a member of the Winston-Salem Kiwanis Club, the YMCA's Men's Club, and Centenary United Methodist Church. Earlier, he served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons and for three terms as Elder at First Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem. Mr. Spinks is survived by his wife, Edith Forbes Spinks of Arbor Acres, his two daughters, Ms. Claire Braxton (Frank) of Topsail Beach, NC and Ms. Rebecca Landholm (Kent) of Vilas, NC; three grandchildren, Sarah Braxton Coe (Jerod), Elizabeth Braxton Ferraro (Michael), and Wyatt Landholm; one great-granddaughter, Emma Payton Coe; and a sister, Mrs. Lucy Keker (Sam) of Chevy Chase, MD. A memorial service will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the Berrier Building in Arbor Acres on Saturday June 5, at 2:00 p.m.. Service will be conducted by Dr. Jack Yarborough of Centenary United Methodist Church. The family requests that any memorials be made to Arbor Acres, The United Methodist Retirement Home. Online condolences may be made through www.salemfh.com.