Wednesday, December 29, 1926 - Friday, April 5, 2024
Reverend Willow Jean Spikes of Hartford went home to be with her Lord, Friday, April 5, 2024. She was 97.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in the Hartford Methodist Church with Rev. Dric Williford, Rev. Bill Messer, and Rev. Jim Reece officiating. Interment will follow in the Hartford City Cemetery with Sorrells Funeral Home of Slocomb directing.
The family will receive friends at the church Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. until service time.
Reverend Spikes was born December 29, 1926 in Geneva County to the late Thomas and Eula Bell McDonald Spikes. A pioneer female reverend, Reverend Spikes answered her calling to enter the ministry 77 years ago. She grew up as a United Methodist in Hartford, AL and began her ministry in the Congregational Methodist Denomination, later joining the United Methodist Denomination. She was the first female inducted into the Alabama-West Florida Methodist Conference, paving the way for many women after her. In addition to Reverend Spikes’s pastoral roles, she served as a traveling evangelist and missionary to the Oriental Missionary Society spreading the gospel throughout Asia. After serving numerous churches in the Mobile area, Jean returned to her home in Hartford in 2015 and continued to serve at the Hartford Methodist Church while enjoying her later years with her sister. Reverend Spikes’s love for her Lord and gift of evangelism was evident to all she ministered to. She left a legacy for generations to come and had an unmeasurable impact on countless souls throughout her life.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers; Theo Pate, Joe Spikes, Jack Spikes; sister, Opal Spikes; and nephews: Donny Spikes, and Glenn Wilkerson.
Survivors include her nephews; Joe Paul (Barbara) Spikes, Harold (Sue) Pate, niece; Terri Wilkerson, great nephew; Tony (Sheri) Wilkerson, great niece; Brittney (Devon) Wilkerson ; great-great nephews: Kalub and Ethyn Wilkerson; one great-great niece on the way in July; special caregivers and friends, Barbara Hughes, Alex and Barbara Copeland, and Glenda Smith; her beloved church family; and other family and friends.
Pallbearers will be David Rousseau, Rob Byrd, Tony Wilkerson, Eddie Showers, Alex Copland, and George Smith.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to all of those who helped care for Jean, especially the staff of Gentiva Hospice.
Condolences
Add Your OwnWhat a legacy that Rev. Spikes left! She blazed the trail for so many women pastors in the United Methodist Church, including my daughter who is also a UMC Pastor. May God Bless her memory and comfort her loved ones in the sure and certain knowing that she will now spend eternity in the presence of her Lord and Savior!
She became family to us all. Her guidance, prayers, and infectious laughter enriched our lives in ways we'll always cherish.
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