Sister Jerlene (Spivey) Buggs

Jerlene accepted Christ at an early age and attended Shiloh Baptist Church and Colquitt Freewill Baptist Church in Haynesville, Louisiana. She graduated from Haynesville High School in 1960 and shortly thereafter married Judge W. Buggs on May 24, 1960. The two immediately journeyed to Houston, Texas to begin their life as one. To their union three children were born; Ronnie William, Carlotta Renae, and Donald Keith.

Jerlene worked hard and contributed to a better quality of life for her family. Early on, she worked as a custodian for the Houston courts, Houston schools and as a private housekeeper and childcare provider. As she continued to flourish in the workforce, she later worked in medical records at Hermann Hospital. Jerlene continued to advance her skills in the Houston Community College System and later worked for Phillips Petroleum as a key punch operator, an oil map digitizer and a computer design drafter before her retirement in 1995.

Jerlene served as a faithful founding member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, now First Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church until physically unable to serve. She diligently contributed to the body of Christ serving as the church secretary, Deaconess, and in the hospitality ministry.

Jerlene loved her husband and family dearly and was a positive and generous supporter of her children, grandchildren, family, church family, neighbors and friends. She was an excellent homemaker and seamstress for her family. Jerlene extended her love as a parent and guardian to her niece and nephew, Cynthia and Dennis Spivey. She also provided many years of dedicated in-home care to her mother, Mary Ella Spivey.

During the pro-longed illness of her husband, Jerlene was affectionately cared for by her devoted sister, Arnell Phillips, until her journey on this side was complete. On the morning of Saturday, August 31, 2019, Jerlene Spivey Buggs transitioned from her earthly vessel to her heavenly home. Jerlene was preceded in death by her devoted husband of nearly 53 years, Judge William Buggs; parents Van and Mary Ella Spivey; three brothers, Leso, Ernest, and Van Jr.; four sisters, Tressie (infant), Martha, Troyhlis Logan, and Idell Gilmore; and nephew Kevin Phillips.

Memories of Jerlene will be cherished by her three children: Ronnie Buggs (D’Andrea), Carlotta Nicholas (Albert), and Donald Buggs (Tashi); six grandchildren: Ronnie Buggs II (Lil’ Ronnie) of Memphis, Tennessee, Anthony Buggs (Tony), Yalanda Buggs, Krystal Buggs of Brooklyn, New York and her mother LaDemia Buggs, Albert Nicholas III (AJ) of Offutt Air Force Base Bellevue, Nebraska, and Lillian Nicholas; two sisters, Arnell Phillips (Charlie) of Dallas, Texas and Juanita Martin (Douglas) of Hazelwood, Missouri; brother in-law, Willie Logan of Los Angeles, California; sister in-law, Lillie Mae Spivey of Detroit, Michigan; niece and nephew Cynthia and Dennis Spivey of El Dorado, Arkansas; affectionate nieces and nephews Roy Gilmore, Dories-Miller Gilmore (Shirley), and Gladys Gilmore-Cole (Lesley); niece Valerie Phillips of Dallas, Texas; nephew Bernard Phillips of Dallas, Texas; great-nephew Chris Phillips of Dallas, Texas; “adopted granddaughter” Mercedes Anderson of Dallas, Texas; honorary grandson Tyler Miller, the extended Holt Family and Nicholas Family, as well as a host of relatives, friends, neighbors, and church family.