Ethel Pendleton Spivey

Ethel Pendleton “Penny” Spivey, a 53-year resident of Peachtree City, Georgia, passed away peacefully on February 27, 2026, in Union City, Georgia. She was 88 years old.

Penny was born in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1937, to Ethel Brunson Kirby and Robert Haslam Kirby. From an early age, she learned to play piano and would do so with her older brother, Robert Haslam “Sonny” Kirby, Jr.

Surviving a case of spinal meningitis in her teens, Penny would go on to work and live in Montgomery, where she met her future husband, John Douglas Spivey, of Tyler, Alabama. Penny and John married in June of 1967 at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Montgomery and welcomed a son, John Kirby Spivey, into the world in December of the following year. Penny, John, and Kirby moved to Georgia in 1972, becoming some of the early residents of Peachtree City. She and John would become charter members of the Peachtree City United Methodist Church two years later, in 1974.

In Peachtree City, Penny’s life revolved around the church she helped establish, arts and crafts, the Braves, and her family. A talented artist, Penny loved painting and making crafts to celebrate all the holidays. John would cut patterns out of wood, which Penny would then transform into beautiful and colorful creations. That creativity extended to food, as well: her cakes and desserts were the stuff of delicious legend.

To say Penny enjoyed watching her Atlanta Braves would be a massive understatement. Going to see them live was always a red-letter day for her, but even just cheering them on from the comfort of home gave her joy. From Hank Aaron to Phil Niekro to Dale Murphy to Chipper Jones, Penny lived and breathed every run and every out.

Most of all, she loved her family, both human and canine. She thanked God for every day she had with her husband of 46 years, and cherished their times together. They shared their love of the mountains, dog shows, horse shows, working on the cabin at Lake Martin, cheering at Auburn football games, or just enjoying the coziness of home life. John was her rock, and she his. John preceded her in death in 2013, but was always in her heart.

Penny is survived by her son, John Kirby Spivey, and his wife, Jennifer, of Atlanta, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Her family would like to thank the teams at Senior Helpers in Peachtree City, especially Dorothy Andrews; Meals on Wheels; A.G. Rhodes in Atlanta; Gentiva Hospice; and Southwest Christian Care for their guidance, compassion, and grace. A celebration of life service will be planned for early Spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Southwest Christian Care in Union City, Georgia.