James "Jim" Norman Spivey, Jr.

 

Mr. James “Jim” Norman Spivey, Jr., 78, passed away Saturday, April 29, 2023. He was born January 26, 1945, in Cocke County Tennessee to the late James Norman Spivey, Sr. and Laverria Proffitt Spivey.

Spivey graduated from Appalachian State Teachers College (now Appalachian State University) in 1967. After graduating from ASTC, he went into education in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. He first taught at Southwest Junior High School, left there and went to Atkins High School (now Winston-Salem Preparatory). While at Atkins, he coached football and boys tennis. After being at Atkins for 11 years, he went to R.J. Reynolds High School in 1984. While there, Spivey coached JV football, as well as girls and boys tennis. In 1986, he became the athletic director at Reynolds, a position he held until his retirement in 2012, after 28 years.

Spivey never met a stranger. He was known for knowing somebody in every city or event. Many students and former players would come up to him after not seeing him for years just to say hello.

Among the many awards and honors in his 45 years of education and coaching, in 2013, Spivey was named to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's "100 Administrators to Remember" during the NCHSAA's 100th anniversary. In addition, he was inducted into the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Sports Hall of Fame in 2015, and in January 2017, he was inducted in the Reynolds Sports Hall of Fame.

Spivey loved going out to eat with friends and family. His passion was playing tennis, which he played at least five or six times a week. He also loved beach trips even though he rarely ventured out on the beach.

Spivey was a huge fan of Wake Forest athletics, going to home football games each week, and would go to as many men's basketball games, baseball games, and men's tennis matches as possible. He also loved the New York Yankees and Green Bay Packers.

In addition to his parents, Spivey was preceded in death by his loving wife, Laura Beth Smith Spivey. He is survived by two sons, James "Jay" Spivey III and William "Cullen" Spivey; brother and sister, Norma Jean Spivey Workman (son Brian Yokley, daughter (Holly Eller Davis); and Doug Spivey (Cheryl) (son Beau Spivey, daughter Sara Spivey Holley). The family would like to extend a special thank you to his caregivers -- Judy Jennings, Ashley Jennings, and Kat Bolden -- for the supportive and loving care they provided to Jim.

A Celebration of Life service will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 18 at Centenary United Methodist Church with Rev. R. Craig Ford officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27103.