Obituary for Reverend Mary T. Spratley
Reverend Mary Otis Taylor Spratley transitioned from earth to heaven on Wednesday, January 8, 2014. She was born on June 8, 1924 in Dinwiddie County to Ed Taylor and Mildred Lewis Taylor. She was the younger of two children and proceeded in death by her brother Anthony Taylor.
She began her education in the Dinwiddie County school system and later moved to New York and continued her education. Early in life she worshiped with the Church of GOD in Christ, as well as studying the Episcopalian faith. After returning to Virginia she remained a card carrying Episcopalian.
She met and married Reverend Earnest Spratley. Upon relocating to Virginia she joined him in his ministry with AME ZION Church and faithfully supported his pastoral-ship. Following the death of her husband, she was called into the ministry. She preached her trial sermon at Blackwell Temple AME Zion Church in Kenbridge. Her studies led to her graduation from VUU School of Theology’s Evans Smith Institute. She was ordained in the Virginia Conference of the AME Zion Church under the leadership of the late Bishop Milton A Williams, Sr.
Reverend Spratley was a mother figure to many people yet treated each one according to their own uniqueness. She took time to listen to your concerns and then offered words of wisdom and motherly advice. She never proclaimed to have all the answers but would give her opinion and always reminded you to “pray over it”. In every conversation she would tell you about the goodness of GOD and reminded you to always keep GOD First in your life. When you left her presence you knew you had shared time and space with a woman of GOD.
She enjoyed sewing, knitting, and cooking. She specialized in making her “checkerboard cakes” and fresh baked rolls which she shared with many friends and relatives. Reverend Spratley was a Missionary in every sense of the word. She often visited the sick in the nursing homes and in their homes; offering prayer, communion, and words of encouragement.
Viewing will be Saturday, January 11, 2014 from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm., where the family will visit with friends from 5 to 7p.m. Services will be held Sunday, January 12, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the Shiloh-Dinwiddie Baptist Church Cemetery.
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of arrangements.
Viewing will be Saturday, January 11, 2014 from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm., where the family will visit with friends from 5 to 7p.m. Services will be held Sunday, January 12, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the Shiloh-Dinwiddie Baptist Church Cemetery.
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of arrangements.
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She began her education in the Dinwiddie County school system and later moved to New York and continued her education. Early in life she worshiped with the Church of GOD in Christ, as well as studying the Episcopalian faith. After returning to Virginia she remained a card carrying Episcopalian.
She met and married Reverend Earnest Spratley. Upon relocating to Virginia she joined him in his ministry with AME ZION Church and faithfully supported his pastoral-ship. Following the death of her husband, she was called into the ministry. She preached her trial sermon at Blackwell Temple AME Zion Church in Kenbridge. Her studies led to her graduation from VUU School of Theology’s Evans Smith Institute. She was ordained in the Virginia Conference of the AME Zion Church under the leadership of the late Bishop Milton A Williams, Sr.
Reverend Spratley was a mother figure to many people yet treated each one according to their own uniqueness. She took time to listen to your concerns and then offered words of wisdom and motherly advice. She never proclaimed to have all the answers but would give her opinion and always reminded you to “pray over it”. In every conversation she would tell you about the goodness of GOD and reminded you to always keep GOD First in your life. When you left her presence you knew you had shared time and space with a woman of GOD.
She enjoyed sewing, knitting, and cooking. She specialized in making her “checkerboard cakes” and fresh baked rolls which she shared with many friends and relatives. Reverend Spratley was a Missionary in every sense of the word. She often visited the sick in the nursing homes and in their homes; offering prayer, communion, and words of encouragement.
Viewing will be Saturday, January 11, 2014 from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm., where the family will visit with friends from 5 to 7p.m. Services will be held Sunday, January 12, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the Shiloh-Dinwiddie Baptist Church Cemetery.
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of arrangements.
Viewing will be Saturday, January 11, 2014 from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm., where the family will visit with friends from 5 to 7p.m. Services will be held Sunday, January 12, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the Shiloh-Dinwiddie Baptist Church Cemetery.
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of arrangements.
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