Jerry Douglas Spires

Jerry Douglas Spires of Clinton, MS, passed away February 16, 2023, at home surrounded by his family after a battle with cancer. He was born in Gould, AR on July 29, 1943. Jerry, affectionately known as DD by family and friends, was preceded in death by his parents Hershell Spires and Hazel Spires Carter, his siblings Hugh Spires and Joyce Spires Byars, and his nephew Darrell Byars.

He attended and graduated from Gould High School (class of 1961), where he developed lifelong friendships and an appreciation for learning. He attended Arkansas A & M where he worked in the cafeteria and completed his degree in three years. He later earned his Masters from Mississippi College, but anyone that met him knew that he had Arkansas in his blood and loved his “hogs.” There was no team that could rival his Razorbacks. He met more lifelong friends while in Jackson, including Joyce Christine Milner, his wife of 56 years, whom he married June 12, 1966.

Jerry taught business courses at Southwest Mississippi Junior College and Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College. He loved his students and fellow teachers. He and Joyce were living in Gautier, MS, where they were actively involved at First Baptist Church, when they felt the Lord calling them to career missions. In 1978, they were commissioned by the Foreign Mission Board (International Mission Board) as Southern

Baptist missionaries to Malawi, Africa, where they served until 1984.

His hobbies included golf and coin collecting, but he especially loved traveling with his wife. They loved choosing cruises to find new sites to see and explore. They also loved going to see their best friends, Dennis and Susan Leary in England, whom they met while living in Africa. Another hobby that he loved was genealogy and tracing his “roots,” as he called it; he loved to incorporate this into his travels with Joyce. His grandson, Richard, recently began helping him convert all his findings digitally.

Jerry was a devoted father and grandfather, and his four “grands,” as he called them, loved their DD! He looked forward to visits from his grandchildren and instilled in them a love for the Lord. He had an amazing memory. Even in his last few days, he told many stories from throughout his life. He loved singing hymns, and his grands sang his favorite, “Beulah Land,” for him, as well as many other favorites, in his final weeks.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce; children, Doug (Stephanie) Spires of Vicksburg, MS, and Michelle (Jody) White of Pearl, MS; grandchildren: Abby, Sarah Katherine, and Belle (Spires) and Richard (Sullivan); sister Linda (Lloyd) Hill; and many other beloved extended family members.

Family and friends are welcome to attend a Celebration of Life, which will be held at First Baptist Church of Clinton, MS on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Clinton for the Missionary House Debt Retirement Fund at FBCClinton.org/give

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.baldwinleepearl.com for the Spires family.