The Rev. Nathan Columbus Spradley, Sr., 89, of Tifton passed away Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Tift Regional Medical Center. His funeral service will be held on Monday, February 6, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. at Union Grove Church of God in Eldorado with the Rev. Joe Brookshire, the Rev. Joseph L. Crumley and the Rev. Todd Garner officiating. Rev. Spradley will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service. Rev. Spradley will be laid to rest at Union Grove Church of God Cemetery in Eldorado. The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 5, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Union Grove Church of God in Eldorado.
Rev. Spradley’s grandsons, Derron Spikes, M.D., Chad Mathis, Buck Varnadoe, Damon Spikes, Brad Mathis, Nathan “Nate” Spradley III will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Rev. Spradley’s great-grandsons, Kaleb Kennedy, Hunter Tyson, Connor Tyson, Fisher Tyson, Bud Varnadoe, Alex Cowperthwaite, Logan Cowperthwaite, Landon Williams, Gavin Spikes, Luke Spikes and Chris Spikes.
Born March 26, 1933, in Tifton, Rev. Spradley was the son of the late Ellen Willis Spradley and the Rev. James “Cecil” Spradley, Sr. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 69+ years, Betty Jean Arrington Spradley and two brothers, James Cecil Spradley, Jr. and Silas Randolph Spradley. He was a member of the Plumbers and Pipe-Fitters Union Local #72 in Atlanta and worked as a foreman on jobs all over the United States.
Rev. Spradley loved his Lord and Savior and preached the gospel for many years and conducted revivals all over the Southeast. In 1974, he and his family started and built Carpenter Road Church of God. He was a member of Union Grove Church of God in Eldorado.
Rev. Spradley is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Thelda and Bobby Welch of Tifton, Debbie and C. B. Mathis of Byron, Vickie and Derrell Spikes of Ty Ty and Frieda and Bill Cowperthwaite of Tifton; two sons and daughters-in-law, Nathan C. and Deby Spradley of Hephzibah and Steven and Lori Spradley of Byron; fourteen grandchildren, Tracey Kennedy, Stacey Tyson, Chad Mathis, Brad Mathis, Dr. Derron Spikes, Damon Spikes, Buck Varnadoe, Melissa Williams, Nathan C. Spradley, III, Mindi Tussey, Stephanie Spradley, Josie Spradley Cervantes, Billy Cowperthwaite and Amy Bennett; thirty-three great grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to the American Heart Association, 3338L Country Club Road, PMB 305, Valdosta, GA 31605.