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BISHOP BILLY SIM SPIVEY, SR, answered the Lord’s call home on Monday, November 19th 2018 after a courageous 3-year battle with Dementia / Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 79. Born July 18, 1939 in Trinity, Texas, Biship Spivey was the second oldest child of Pink and Annie Mae English Spivey. He had five siblings: Reverend Jeff Spivey, Sr., Sulphur Springs, TX; Reverend Robert Charles Triggs, Sr., Houston, TX; Barbara Ann Hogan, Waco, TX; JoAnn Spivey, Itasca, TX and Milford Spivey, Houston, TX. Bishop Spivey attended public schools in Corpus Christi ISD and Trinity ISD, graduating from Trinity High School in 1957. Bishop Spivey would marry the love of his life, Vera Nell Davis of Hills Prairie, Texas on June 1st, 1958, on the steps of her grandmother’s front porch in Bastrop County, Texas. Having met in the cotton fields of South Texas, this union of 60+ years would produce 13 children; 7 boys and 6 girls: Mark Anthony Spivey, Sr. (Jullette), Lore Ann Spivey, Billy Sim Spivey, Jr. (Charla), Carla Renea Spivey-Ray, Felissa Gail Spiey-Martin (Marcus), Remanda Rusha Spivey-Bess (Jihad), David Lamont Spivey, Sr., Billie Carlette Spivey (Howard), Eric O’neal Spivey, Michael Barnard Spivey, Sr., (Tiffany), Regina Jenea Spivey-Alao (Oluwasegun), Christopher Dewayne Spivey, Sr., (LaTausha), Darryl Wayne Spivey, Sr. (Brittany), Bishop and Mother Spivey also have 41 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren, several who have served in the United States Military. In 1962, Minister Robert Townsend of the Bethel Temple Church of our Lord Jesus Christ went door-to-door “witnessing” to the citizens of the Booker T. Washington Projects in Corpus Christi about baptism in Jesus’ Name and Acts 2:38. When he arrived at 1624 Tanner Street, his meeting with a 23-year old Billy Sim Spivey would result in a life-changing and Kingdom Building experience that would last his entire lifetime. Under the tutelage and leadership of the late Bishop M.H. Bonds, a young “Minister” Spivey would serve in many church capacities for the next decade while rising to the rank of Elder in COOLJC. In 1972, he would follow God’s command and lay the groundwork for the establishment of the Community Church our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith. In 1974, Bishop Spivey and his family would relocate to Austin, Texas and continue the work of the Lord at 1317 Fort Branch Street in East Austin. There, the church would grow into the Greater Community Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. As a part of COOLJC’s Texas Diocense, led by the late Apostle J. P. Steadman, the then titled “Elder Spivey” worked endlessly and tirelessly to promote and enhance the goals of COOLJC alongside his fellow presbyters and church congregations. He has served as the Vice-President of the National Evangelistic Board, Sergeant at Arms of the International Presbyters Board, Coordinator for the Texas-Oklahoma Diocese and as District Elder of the North Central District for COOLJC. Bishop Spivey received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the University Of St. Louis Commonwealth for his dedication and outstanding work in various fields. After 21 years in Austin, Elder Spivey would go on to establish the House of Refuge COOLJC in Tampa, Florida in 1995. On August 8, 1996, and after 34 years in the ministry, he proudly received his Bishop’s Credentials from his beloved Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Incorporated. It was the highlight of his pastoral and preaching career. Bishop Spivey had an intense love for the “Altar Call” when he would tarry and pray with persons seeking the precious gift of God’s Holy Spirit. He beckoned the call to evangelism, ministering in revivals throughout the country. His fiery brand/style of delivering God’s Word garnered him the title of the “Texas Tornado” from his closest COOLJC friends. His signature call and response “testimonial service song” was “What kind of Church Is This? A Sanctified Church…” Bishop Spivey would later “reitre” from pastoral duties after nearly four decades in the ministry and join the Bibleway #1 COOLJC of Augusta, Georgia under the leadership of Apostle Sylvester Norwood in 2007. He and Mother Spivey would later return home to Texas in 2013 after being diagnosed with dementia to be with their children and extended family. While Bishop Spivey remained a member of the Bibleway COOLJC, upon his return to Austin, he worshipped with the Sanctuary of Deliverance Church, under the Leadership of Pastor A. Keith Brown. Professionally, Bishop Spivey continued his education In programs offered by the United States Department of Labor Trades School in Denver, Colorado, eventually graduating from the A. Phillip Randolph Institute School of Management in New York City, New York. He assisted in writing the policy for the Corpus Christi Police Community Relations Program and served as the President of The Operation Enterprise Voter Education Project. Bishop Spivey also served as the Vice-Chairman of the Legal Aid Society as well as the Regional Director of the National Client Council. Bishop Spivey was actively involved in the political landscape of the 1970’s in Corpus Christi. He played an integral role in grassroots community organizations and led civil rights marches throughout Nueces County prior to his move to Austin. In Austin, Bishop Spivey worked for the University of Texas and Child Incorporated. He and Mother Spivey would open “Spivey’s Southern Style Restaurant” which delighted patrons with the delectable taste of the “Southern Soul Food Cooking. Bishop Spivey spent the final 20 years of his professional tenue working in the educational system; 13 years in the Austin Independent School District and 7 years in the Richmond County Independent School District in Augusta, Georgia. Bishop Spivey was also an avid sports fan. He was a big supporter of high school athletics and could be seen regularly at football games, basketball games, and track meets on local and state levels. He loved his Dallas Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, and Prairie View A&M Panthers. The Bishop is preceded in death by his mother, father and two sisters. He leaves behind his loving wife, Mother Vera Spivey; two brothers; four loving sister-in-laws, Lois Faye Davis, Charles Edith Miller, Beatrice Davis and Alice Triggs; one brother in law, John Earl Davis (Vicki); along with his children; grandchildren, Quincy, Aaron (Daniele), Julius (Tiffany), D’Ette, Jalissa, Tiffany, Austin III (Jeidi), LaTasha (Mike), Billy Sr. (Charmain), Mark Jr. (Felicia), Keisha (Jay), Gary, Ronald (Precious), Alesha, NaTasha, Ursula, Cynthia, Brandon, John, Dominique (Camille), Aramis, Christopher Jr, Tiara, Tikara, Desiree, Imani, Jalen, Israel Jr., Marquisa, Mister, David Jr, Jade, Isaiah, Mike Jr, Khalil, Marcus Jr., J’Kari, Chrislynn, Chrisette, Christopher III, Madison, Fancy and Darryl Jr; great-grandchildren; 2 aunts (Beulah Cook and Lucille Scott) four honorary daughters (Deidre Woodworth, Evelyn Barton, Marcelle Lashley and Mikki Mims Kennedy) and a host of relatives and friends. He will be sorely missed.

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Bishop Billy Spivey Sr

July 18, 1939 - November 19, 2018