Ruth Elizabeth Everett Spivey

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Ruth Elizabeth Everett Spivey passed away peacefully, at home, on January 11, 2010. She was a much-loved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and friend who fought an almost three-year battle against breast cancer with grace and dignity. She was known for her welcoming smile, kind heart and wonderful sense of humor.
 
She was an excellent cook well-known for her “made from scratch” yeast breads and wide variety of desserts. She enjoyed sharing funny jokes, recipes and articles of interest with her friends. She always remembered birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions with a card and personal note.
 
Ruth was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. Her parents, Dr. Benjamin A. Everett and Eliza V. Champion Everett, provided the foundation for her to become a caring, self-assured person who could excel in whatever she chose to do. She had the highest average in her high school and college graduating classes. She was an accomplished pianist and also played the violin. She enjoyed listening to piano concertos. Ruth had a passion for learning and teaching and was able to travel extensively in her lifetime. She especially enjoyed living in Geneva, Switzerland, for three years where she was able to converse in French daily. While in Geneva, to challenge herself, she took two classes in Mandarin Chinese (a very difficult language to learn) that were taught in French.
 
Her education and work experience consisted of a B.A. in French, minors in English and Spanish from Bennett College, an M.A. in French, minor in English from the University of Michigan, further studies at New York University, Teacher’s Institute (Reims, France), Sorbonne (Paris, France), the University of Geneva (Geneva, Switzerland), the University of Illinois and University of Chicago, and more than 15 years’ experience teaching all levels of French, remedial English and freshman English at Englewood Middle School, Englewood, NJ, Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, OH, Prairie View State University, Prairie View, TX, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, and Benedict College, Columbia, SC.
 
She retired from Chicago City Colleges after teaching 20 years at Kennedy-King, Daly, Harold Washington, Wright and Truman campuses. She was a well-respected and accomplished educator. She participated on numerous committees and was a speaker at many workshops. She was recognized for her training in and teaching of Mastery Teaching of English.
 
Additionally, she enjoyed her volunteer work with the Chicago Blind Service Association where she read to and recorded books for the blind.
 
Ruth married Charles S. Spivey Jr. on October 17, 1950, in her family home in Columbia, SC. They enjoyed a two-week honeymoon in Mexico City. They had residences in Pittsburg, PA, Wilberforce, OH, Teaneck, NJ, Geneva, Switzerland, Chicago, IL, and Jacksonville, FL.
 
She played an important role in her husband’s success in his positions and appointments to Payne Theological Seminary (OH), The National Council of Churches (NY), The World Council of Churches (Switzerland), Church Federation of Greater Chicago and Quinn A.M.E. Church and Coppin Memorial A.M.E. Church, both in Chicago.
 
In 1995, she and her husband moved from Chicago to Jacksonville. She enjoyed seeing the many azalea bushes in bloom in her yard. They became members of Historic Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church. In 2007, the Spiveys moved to Westminster Woods on Julington Creek, a community where she made more new friends and was very happy. She enjoyed exercise classes at the YMCA, Jewish Community Center and Westminster Woods.
 
She leaves to cherish her memory, devoted husband Dr. Charles Spivey Jr.; son, Charles Spivey III of Seattle, WA; daughters, Lisa Spivey of Jacksonville, FL, and Elayne Spivey-Woodard (Eddy) of Spring, TX; grandson, Bryan Coleman of London, UK; sister, Rosa Hinton of Augusta, GA; brother, Percival Everett(Dorothy) of Charlotte, NC; sisters-in-law, Harriett Everett of Buffalo, NY, and Mary Everett of New Rochelle, NY; cousins, nieces, nephews and many very dear friends.
 
Ruth’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the following Mayo Clinic staff for the exceptional care and special attention that they showed to her during her years of treatment: Dr. Alvaro Moreno-Aspitia, M.D., Shelly Brock, A.R.N.P, Krystyna Johnson, R.N., the chemotherapy nurses, and the front desk staff. An additional thank you to the Mayo hospitalists Dr. Maniaci, Dr. Roy and Dr. Persoff and nursing staff for the care and compassion they showed during her recent hospitalization and Community Hospice.
 
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in her name to support breast cancer research or to a charity of your choice. Please support helping to provide free mammograms to underprivileged women by logging on daily to http://www.thebreastcancersite.com and clicking the pink button.
 
A memorial service for Mrs. Spivey will be held Saturday, January 23, 2010, at noon at the Historic Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, 201 East Beaver Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202, with Pastor Frederick D. Richardson Jr. officiating.
 
Compliments of: A.B. Coleman Mortuary, Inc., 5660 Moncrief Road, Jacksonville, FL 32209, (904) 768-0507.