Jimmie Dixon Spell

A bit of light, mischief, and laughter has left our world as heaven is celebrating. Jimmie Dixon Spell passed away peacefully at age 88 on Monday, June 8, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Jimmie was born on July 7, 1937, at home on the family farm in Sampson County, NC, to Derwood Coleman Spell and Elzora Jackson Spell. Church, family, farming, raising animals, friends, and community were the teachers in his early years, and where he learned what it meant to serve others and diligently work with purpose and fortitude.

Jimmie attended grades 1-12 at Salemburg High School. He spent two years in the army before attending and graduating from Atlantic Christian College (currently known as Barton College) with a degree in accounting. He married his high school sweetheart, Jennie, on July 9, 1961, and they settled in Raleigh, where they raised their two daughters. He worked for the North Carolina Department of Transportation for 32 years. When he "retired" at the age of 57, Jimmie moved from raising black Angus cattle on weekends to weekdays on the farm. Laboring in a field in 90(+) degree heat and humidity was a familiar and welcome part of Jimmie's life, and he enjoyed the time with "the girls" (Black Angus cows) who he said "did not talk back". He also managed to squeeze in rounds of golf, play bridge, tailgate, and attend NC State football games with family and friends, trade on the stock market, work in the yard, regularly attend and serve in his church, travel to Sunset Beach, NC, and beyond, and help neighbors, friends, and strangers with projects. Jimmie lived life with Godly intention, balancing his love for his heritage, family, and faith with a curiosity to explore and learn new things and a strong desire to support others. He will be dearly missed.

Jimmie was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Jackie McLamb. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jennie Spell, his daughters, Marsha Whyte (Harry Whyte), Kimberly Szarek (Bob Szarek), grandchildren, Chelsey Whyte Harrington (Brandon Harrington), Coleman Whyte (Libby Whyte), Parker Szarek (Brooke Leithead)), Weston Szarek, great-grandson, Atlas Whyte, brothers, Kenneth Spell (Brownie Spell), Wayne Spell (Cindy Spell) and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service to honor Jimmie Spell will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 2 pm at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, 4921 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27609, with a reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall. A private burial in Salemburg, NC, will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church or Transitions Palliative and Hospice Care.