Ada Lee Spivey

Ada Lee Rivers Hinkle Spivey, 100 years old, died peacefully surrounded by her daughters and granddaughter on the 25th of September, 2016 at Friends Home at Guilford in Greensboro where she had resided for 17 years. Her life will be celebrated at a graveside service at Lexington City Cemetery on Saturday, October 1st at 10:00 AM with family and friends led by Reverend John Kimmons from Greensboro. The family will receive friends following the service in the Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian Church in Lexington. Raised in Chesterfield, SC, the last of 7 children, she grew up eating home grown vegetables (which she attributed to her long life), attending the First Baptist Church, riding in the family’s Model T and climbing magnolia trees with her twin brother. She graduated from Meredith College in 1937 and began her teaching career at Davis Townsend School in Davidson County. It was in Lexington, NC at GW Penry’s Department Store where she met TC Hinkle, Jr. who she was married to until his death in 1974. In addition to mothering three children, she was very involved in Lexington’s First Presbyterian Church from everything to teaching Sunday School, leading Youth Fellowship, attending Women’s Circle, serving as a camp counselor at the church camp (Camp Grier) and holding a role as a cub scout leader. Most notably, she established the church’s first preschool/kindergarten as well as taught and directed there for over 20 years. Her community involvement ranged from Charity League, book clubs, garden clubs and bridge clubs. Later in life, she married her second husband, Curry Spivey, who preceded her in death in 2000. She was not only proud of being a skilled bridge player, but also for the fact that she mowed her own grass until she moved to Friends Home in her 80’s. Ada Lee found great joy in reminiscing about the good ole days in detail particularly about her childhood. She also never minded telling anyone who would listen about her 5 grandchildren. Many of her caregivers were witness to the fact that she was a strong believer in eating dessert first at meal time. During her years at Friends Home, she was extremely blessed to be attended to by some of the most caring and loving nurses and CNAs who ever graced the profession. She is survived by her three children, Thomas C. Hinkle III (Ann), Ellen H Sowers, and Cyndee H. Lohr (Jim); her four grandchildren, Kim S. Rangel (Todd), J. Alan Sowers Jr., Daoud Hinkle (Michelle), and Ian Hinkle (Molli) and 7 great grandchildren. In addition to her two husbands, she is predeceased by her adored siblings: Charles, John Robert, Flora Belle, Kate, Jim Arch and Louise; and her beloved grandson Erik Lohr. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 586, Lexington NC 27293 or Friends Home at Guilford (Employee Appreciation Fund), 925 New Garden Road, Greensboro, NC 27410.