Leon William “Billy” Spicer, Jr., 65, of Ocilla, Georgia, died Thursday, January 30, 2025, at Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM, Saturday, February 8, 2025, at The Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Ocilla, Georgia, with the Rev. James Griffin officiating. Interment will follow in the Brushy Creek Cemetery, in Irwin County, Georgia. The family will receive friends from 6 PM to 8 PM Friday evening at the Paulk Funeral Home in Ocilla.
Mr. Spicer was born May 30, 1959, in Irwin County, Georgia. He was a loving gift to his parents Leon & Ellorie Holsenbeck Spicer and five sisters. Billy loved the Lord and his church, Bethlehem Baptist. Billy loved music and “leading” the Irwin County High School Marching band. He never missed a football game if he could help it, then joining the guys at Pecks on Saturday mornings to discuss the game. Billy was selected to be Grand Marshall of the 2018 Georgia Sweet Potato parade and led the Big Red Marching Band. Billy never met a stranger and loved them all. He acquired many non-blood brothers, sisters and cousins throughout his life. If he met you, he never forgot you. Billy worked and/or “managed” several businesses in Ocilla, Chicken Delite, Harvey’s and several more. He held a “managing” position at Sunny Dale Training Center, the Irwin County Sheriff’s Department and was Jay Roberts campaign manager at one time. Billy attended a special school for Down Syndrome while living with his sister, Velma, in Orlando, Florida. He attended and graduated many times from Irwin County High School. Billy had many classmates in and around Ocilla. In 1996, he and his special friend, Martha Alice Turner, were awarded State Champions in Golf at the Special Olympics.
He is survived by three sisters: Jeanette & Tuffy Hudson of Ocilla, Velma Champion of Orlando, Florida and Jackie & Kade Gaines of Ocilla; and a brother-in-law, Rayburn Harper of Ocilla. Many nieces and nephews and great and great-great survive. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a step-mother, Velma Pierce Spicer; two sisters: Pat Harper and Sandra Rowe; a brother-in-law, John Champion and a nephew, Gary Harris.
A special thanks to the staff and members of Sunny Dale Training Center for the many years he worked there and lived there the last years of his life.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials may send them to the Irwin ARC, P.O. Box 614, Ocilla, GA 31774 or to Bethlehem Baptist Church, P.O. Box 27, Ocilla, GA 31774.
Paulk Funeral Home, Ocilla, is in charge of arrangements.