Patsy Ann Vickers Spradlin, 87, of Irwinville, Georgia, died Friday, September 6, 2019, at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held 2 PM, Sunday, September 8, 2019, at Crossview Baptist Church in Fitzgerald, with the Rev. Tommy Land, Jr. and the Rev. Terrell Roberts officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery in Fitzgerald with the Rev. Jeff Parmer officiating. The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6 PM until 8 PM at Crossview Baptist Church.
Mrs. Spradlin was born September 25, 1931, in Berrien County, Georgia, to the late Troy M. & Marietta Musslewhite Vickers. She graduated from Irwinville High School in 1948, the last class to graduate from that school. She was married on June 17, 1948. She worked as a switchboard operator for General Telephone and as a cashier for the Colonial Store. She owned and operated General Appliance as well as Patsy’s Baby Shop, the latter having locations in Fitzgerald, Ocilla, and Dublin. “Miss Patsy” was an icon in our community and was well-known for her piano playing. She shared her God-given talent at pianos in Northside Baptist Church, Westside Baptist Church, Crossview Baptist Church and Tift Avenue Missionary Baptist Church. She was blessed with the ability to plan, organize, write, and direct many church plays and productions. Her pride and joy was the Northside Baptist Church Youth Choir which she directed for many years. This Choir still has active reunions with over 70 alumni participating. She taught piano to generations of people for over 40 years. She accompanied the Bernhardt Singers for over 35 years in their Monday singings at local nursing homes. She was an honorary staff member of The Paulk Funeral Home where she played at innumerable funerals over the last half-century, ministering to families through her music in their darkest hour. She also directed many weddings. Although Mrs. Spradlin had trials in her life, she always had a smile on her face and was always willing to share an encouraging word to friend and stranger alike. She freely shared her faith and many people came to know the Lord through the encouragement and prayers of Mrs. Spradlin. She was a member of Crossview Baptist Church.
She is survived by two daughters, Daphanie Spradlin of Irwinville and Peggy Ann Ellis & Bobby of Irwinville; a son, Danny Spradlin & Belinda of Fitzgerald; grandchildren: John Gaines, Jr., Tanya Rogers & Charlie, Teresa Smith & Randall, Brian Ellis, Alyson Spradlin, Christopher Daniel Spradlin, Crystal Spradlin, Niki Webster & Paul, Matthew Hughes, Kevin Hughes & Kim, and Brittany Hughes; nineteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Joseph Cline Spradlin; a son, Joseph Randall “Randy” Spradlin; a grandson, Joseph Michael “Joey” Spradlin; two great-grandchildren: Jaci Morgan Rogers and Caiden Hughes; three brothers: Bernard Vickers, Kenneth Vickers, and Rev. Virgil Vickers; and two sisters: Faye Vickers and Joyce Vickers Jones.