Mother Sarah Lucy Purdee Spires, born April 10, 1910, the oldest supercentenarian living in Jackson County, Florida, transitioned from this life on Monday, January 10, 2022, to her eternal heavenly home to be with the Lord. Mother Sarah had three children and four siblings to precede her in death. She was the last surviving child of her parents, the late Lawyer Armstrong and Gracie White Purdee of Jackson County. She was joined in holy matrimony with the late Willie E. Spires for over 50 years, and together they raised 10 children and a grandson. Willie was a carpenter, farmer and owner of Spires Headstone Business on the corner of Grave and Old Cottondale Road.

She received her early training and education in the schools of Jackson County. Later, she earned a degree at Whites Beautician School of Cosmetology and was certified and licensed by the State of Florida. She lovingly took care of her family for many years prior to working outside of the home. After the passing of her husband, she presided as supreme matriarch over several generations of her family and was highly respected for the dual role that she played.

Mother Spires, after extending such loving, and tender care to her husband at Jackson Hospital, the supervisor of nursing came to Sarah’s home and offered her a job at the hospital and was hired on the spot. Sarah soon realized that caring for others was her calling in life. She began taking classes and pursuing a career as a licensed practical nurse. In the meantime, she tended to patients on her floor, and worked in the nursery and delivery room assisting obstetricians in delivering babies. Upon the request of Dr. Cook and Dr. Whittaker, Sarah worked in the operating room, passing surgical instruments to the doctor performing surgery. Her interchangeable roles as a nurse were often based on what was needed at the hospital at the time.

Pastor Gregory Gathers of Tallahassee, FL., the pastor of New Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, members and friends often extended individual and corporate prayer covering Mother Spires, and all the sick and shut in, until her demise.

Mother Spires was a devoted lifelong member of New Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church for over 50 years serving diligently under the leadership of former Pastor, Rev. Robert Wooden of Sneads, FL. She continually worked faithful at New Mt. Olive until her health began to decline. She was currently the oldest member on the church roll. With a graceful, regal presence, and loving spirit, she touched many lives. She served faithfully at NMOMB church as Sunday school teacher of the senior women. In the early days of the church, she taught the primary and intermediate Sunday school classes, sing in the choir, served as deaconess and usher; worked faithfully in the church kitchen, frying chicken, fish, making cornbread and cooking collard greens with ham hocks. She, along with other members, would make potato salad, potato pies, and cakes in their homes, to bring to church events.

Mother Spires served as church clerk for 27 years, worked on the Senior No. 1 Mission Board, served in the Baptist Training Union (BTU) of Second West Florida Missionary Baptist Association, the 5TH Sunday Congress, and other capacities of the church. During her time with us, she trained many of us to be missionaries, good Christians, and church leaders. The Lord was her anthem, the Lord was her song of praise, and her life was a testimony of her faith and trust in God. She was converted at an early age and joined St. James A.M.E. Church. Her husband, Willie, was a member of New Mt. Olive Baptist Church. She said my children would attend church with me some Sundays and with their father some Sundays. The children stop attending church with me altogether and went to be with their father at NMO. Mother Sarah decided to join New Mt. Olive Baptist church to worship the Lord with her family.

Mother Spires also was a member of the Heroines of Jericho, Local Court No 225, a member of the Marianna Housekeeping Garden Club, Jackson County Senior Citizen, and a member of the Capital City Democratic Women's Club in Tallahassee, FL. She received presidential letters from President Barack Obama, President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, and from Governor Jeb Bush, wishing her a Happy Birthday, and many congratulations on reaching such a glorious age and another great milestone in her life.

When fondly asked what it was like growing up in her day, Mother Spires would respond with a smile. In retrospect, a regular day at home was to rise early before the break of dawn, fill the wash tub with water, and begin washing clothes on a rub board. After washing the clothes, the tub was refilled with water to rinse them. The clothes were wringed out by hand and hanged to dry on the clothesline using wooden clothespins. White shirts had to be starched and ironed; the heavy soiled overalls were boiled in a black cast iron wash pot, using a long stick to rotate the clothes and turn them over. But first a fire had to be built underneath the pot. When it was time to iron the clothes, the iron had to be heated up on a wood burning stove. The house had to be cleaned and all the linoleum floors had to be moped. The yard had to be raked, and the leaves had to be burned. Then I would help my mama cook. We didn’t go to a restaurant for chicken. We would catch a yard chicken and get it ready. The chicken was placed in boiling hot water in order to pluck all the feathers, and the inside had to be cleaned out before frying. Field peas had to be picked from the garden; shelled, snapped and cooked. At suppertime you could appreciate all the hard work that went into preparing the meal. People don’t cook or plant a garden like they use to when I was coming up. Mother Sarah Lucy Purdee Spires and the late Willie E. Spires raised ten children and one grandson. They leave a legacy of love and fond memories of their lives to be forever cherish by six daughters: Sarah Wilson of Bronx, N.Y., Curley Potter of Marianna, FL., Jean Burnside of Bronx, N.Y., Lenora (Bill) Tolbert of White Plains, MD., Marinda Liggans of Tallahassee, FL., Eldonia Elaine (Bobby) Goode of Mt. Vernon, N.Y. One son: Attorney Alexander (Rose) Spires of New York, N.Y. Grandson reared as son: Calvin (Barbara) Spires of Marianna, FL. One nephew: Emanual P. Johnson of Tampa, FL. One niece: Edna (Frank) Truitt of Marianna, FL. Twenty-three grandchildren: Regena (Wayne) Herring, Torron Gibson, all of Marianna, FL; Delois (Felix, Sr.) Redmon, and Edward Hall of Dade City, FL; Clifton (Jennifer) Hall, III, of St. Cloud, FL., Stacy Burnside of Orlando, FL., Tyrenna Tolbert, and Frank Tolbert of White Plains, MD., Gregory Potter of Bronx, N.Y., Jacqueline (Fernando) Diaz, Jonathan (Loretta) Goode, all of Bronx, N.Y; Elizabeth Goode of White Plain, N.Y., Brenda (Jeffery) Marshall of Middletown, N.Y., and Eloquent (Quentin) Saxton of New York, N.Y., Dr. Sara Elaine (Tommy) Love of Seattle, WA., Vasalonyer McFadden of Ocala, FL., Carolina Spires of Dothan, AL., Dr. Sarah Holder of Sanford, FL., Dr. Joyce (Homer) Matthews, Theresa Hagood, and Livingston Holder, Jr., all of Detroit, MI. Twenty-eight great grands: Brian Rhynes of Marianna, FL., Rev. Maurice (Danicca) Herring of West Palms Beach, FL., Brandon Gibson of Chipley, FL; Tatiana, Jasmine, and Antonio Diaz, Richard Pearson, Jonathan Goode, Jr., and Justine Goode, all of Bronx, N.Y. Logan Spires of New York, N.Y., Ashley Burnside, Anaya Braiden, Noah Potter, all of Bronx, N.Y; Brandi Waldron of White Plains, MD., Maya Outlaw of Destin, FL., Charity Outlaw, She’Coya, Kayla, and Ciera Hall, all of Orlando, FL; Malcolm, Felix, Jr., Jasmine, and Emanuel Redmon, all of Dade City, FL., Mataya Sweeting, Capria, and Clifton (CJ) Hall, all of St. Cloud, FL., Calvin (Crystal) Spires, Jr. of Torrington, Ct., and Asya (Jonathan) Whitley of Birmingham, AL. Twenty-two great, great, grands: Markwan Gordon of Columbus, GA, Destiny, and Maurice (Reese) Herring of West Palms Beach, FL., Nicholas, and Natalie Marshall of Middletown, N.Y., Kyera Denmark of Orlando, FL., Andre Hall of Dade City, FL., Andrew, Ahzjah, and Antrel Pope of Dade City, FL., Niya, Treshad, and Aaliyah Woods of Orlando, FL; Ariyah story, Drequan Bullard, Don Janay Dowridge, and Leilani Redmon, all of Dade City, FL.; Malachi, Calirose, Shylynn, Lyana, and Calvin Spires, III, all of Torrington, Ct. Two great, great, great grands: Bailee and Brinlyn Gibson of Chipley, FL., and a host of great nieces, nephews, cousins, and sorrowing friends. Special friends: Susie Small, Carrie Merritt, Sandra Wilson, Gwen Swails, Caretha Everett, Lula Kelly, Eugene and Mary McClendon, Velma Mount, Annie Mae Jackson, all of Marianna, FL., Anna Kirby of Nashville, TN., Dan and Juanita Hester of Hempstead, N.Y. ~ Written by Marinda Liggans ~

Homegoing celebration for Mother Sarah Purdee Spires will be held on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Second West Missionary Baptist Association Church with Rev. Riley J. Henderson, Moderator, Rev. Gregory E. Gathers, Presiding, and Reverend Maurice Herring her great grandson officiating. Interment will follow in the Orange Hill Cemetery with the Caring Staff of Peoples Funeral Home of Marianna, FL directing.

The family will receive friends and family on Friday, January 21, 2022 at New Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church on Barnes Street from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.