In Loving Memory

Over the weekend I learned that my grandmother passed away.  I can't say it came as a shock, because her health had been declining and over Christmas when I saw her, she seemed incredibly weak and frail to me.  She was my last living grandparent, so that has been difficult.  But, I know that she is so much better off now and that she and the love of her life, my grandfather, are reunited and happy together once again.

A lot of our summer vacations were spent visiting my grandparents at their home in North Carolina.  They lived on the Intercoastal Waterway and as an adult I can appreciate the beautiful backdrop that is like non-other.  As a kid though, I just remember all of the fun we would have there with them.  It's where I learned to fish, check crab traps, and water ski.  We were taught the art of rocking on a screen porch while sipping sweet tea and watching the boats go by.  We would devour an entire watermelon at the picnic table out by the waterway and swing from the rope swing that hung from one of the giant trees.  We'd pose by the azalea bushes on Easter Sunday and enjoy Sunday supper there after church.

My grandmother was the perfect southern woman.  She exuded beauty, class, and grace.  I will always remember how perfectly polished she looked with her scarves, pearls, and broaches...some of which she gave to me and I will treasure now more than ever.  She always had her hair perfectly curled and always had her lipstick on.  As a little girl I would ask her for lipstick on the way to church and she always let me have some...making me feel so grown up.  She would also sneak me pieces of Juicy Fruit chewing gum, which I forever to this day, associate with her.

I wish I had some of the pictures of me as a child with her, but they are all at my parents' house.  I'll have to post some when I get them.  I do have pictures of her with my children though. She loved them so much and they brought her such joy.  When we were at her house over Christmas the kids were amazed that she still had Mother's Day cards and Valentine's hanging they had sent to her over the years, along with any and every picture of them I had ever given her.

Meeting Handley for the first time

Meeting Harper for the first time

She was such a special lady who I learned so much from.  I will miss her so much.

Lorraine Galloway Spivey

MARCH 19, 1927 - JANUARY 26, 2014

BIOGRAPHY

Lorraine Spivey died January 26, 2014 at Davis Healthcare after a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmie P. Spivey

Born on March 19, 1927 in Brunswick County, she was a graduate of James Walker Memorial School of Nursing. After her training, she assisted in the establishment of and was director of nursing for a new hospital near Fort McKoy, Wisconsin during the early 1950’s. In 1953, she and her husband became one of the first residents of Bald Eagle Lane in Porters Neck.

In July of 1966 she assisted, as a staff nurse, in the opening of Davis Nursing Home, later to be known as Davis Health Care Center. Mrs. Spivey worked for more than 35 years with Davis Health Care including 11 years as Director of Nursing. She never forgot her kind and nurturing touch as a nurse and always expressed this to everyone she came in contact with. She is also remembered by the staff as always having a smile on her face. Lorraine was a lifelong and active member of Calvary Baptist Church.

She is survived by her son Jimmie P. Spivey, Jr. and wife Deborah, daughter Julie Anne Barefoot and husband George, grandchildren, Carrie Beth Posener and huband Robby, Jimmie P. Spivey III and wife Stefanie, Cameron Spivey, Rhett Barefoot and fiancé Ryann Fussell, and Anna Barefoot, and great grandchildren Handley, Harper, and Hudson Posener and Sophia Spivey.

The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 5 to 7 PM at Andrews Market Street Chapel. A graveside service will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, February 1, 2014 at Oleander Memorial Gardens.

The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Davis Health Care and especially the staff of East Wing 1 for their devotion, care, and friendship.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Calvary Baptist Church, Young at Heart Ministry or to Davis Health Care.