Ruby Lee Pritchard Spinks, 86, of Tifton died Friday, June 1, 2012, at her residence. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 3, 2012, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church. Dr. W. Ches Smith, III and Rev. Andy Ring will officiate with a eulogy to be given by Carolyn Massey. The committal service will be held at Salem Baptist Church with burial to follow in Salem Memorial Gardens. Sons and grandsons: Jake Jarnagin, Joseph Spinks, Zack Dunn, Monty Spinks, Michael Spinks, Sonny Bowen, Gibbs Patrick Jr. will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the member of the Board of Deacons of Salem Baptist Church, members of the Tift Regional Medical Center Board, members of the ABAC Foundation Board, members of the Tifton Council of Garden Clubs, members of Mrs. Spinks’ Sunday school class of Salem Baptist Church, Melvin Merrill, Dr. Bill Richardson, John Prince III, Dr. Joe Turner, Jimmy Allen, Theodore Foster, Donald Pearson and Dr. David Bridges. The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 2, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mrs. Spinks was born on March 20, 1926 in Ellenton, GA and was the daughter of John Lawson Pritchard and Leola Powell Pritchard, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by one sister, Lucille Pritchard Marchant. She was a homemaker and also began her career as secretary of Ponder Plant Company. She was a member of Salem Baptist Church and was a lifelong resident of Tift County. She was president of the Tifton Council of Garden Clubs, president of Camellia Garden Club, member of the Clean Community Commission, served on the ABAC Foundation Board, served on the Tift Regional Medical Center Board and the Georgia Museum of Agriculture Foundation Board. She was the recipient of the Exchange Club Golden Deeds Award, the Tifton Council of Garden Clubs Distinguished Service Award, the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce Wall of Fame Award, the Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson’s Keep America Beautiful, Inc. Award, the Tift County Young Farmers Wives Outstanding Service Award and the Tift Regional Medical Center John B. Prince III Distinguished Service Award.
Mrs. Spinks is survived by her husband, Ford B. Spinks of Tifton; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Ford B. “Monty” Spinks, Jr. of Tifton and Michael Pritchard Spinks and his wife, Marcie Brooks Spinks of Tifton; one daughter, Leah Suzanne Spinks of Excelsior; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Drew and Jaclyn Spinks, Sara Frances Spinks, Jake and Madeline Baldwin-Jarnagin, Zachary Spinks Dunn, Hannah Lee Dunn, Mikal Brooke Spinks and Joseph Ford Spinks; two great-grandchildren, Chyenne Elizabeth Semmelink and Eleanor Flemming Jarnagin; her loving friend, constant companion and very special caregiver, Margarita Montalvo.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to a charity of your choice.