Mrs. Julia Pierce Spear

Mrs. Julia P. Spear of Spencer, North Carolina passed away peacefully at Novant Health Rowan Regional Medical Center in Salisbury on June 22, 2019 at the age of 94. Mrs. Spear was born on August 14, 1924 in Spencer and was the fifth and youngest child of Samuel Spencer Pierce and Maude Newman Pierce. She was educated in the Rowan County School System and graduated from Spencer High School in 1941, serving as President of her Senior Class. After graduation, she attended King’s Business College in Charlotte and she married Clifford Edgar Spear, Jr. of Commerce, Georgia on March 28, 1946. The couple settled in Spencer, where they resided for the entirety of their life together, and they remained married for over 67 years until Mr. Spear passed away on September 26, 2013 . They had one son, Samuel Edgar Spear, who was born on April 13, 1953. In 1959, Mrs. Spear commenced employment with Wachovia Bank in Salisbury and served in various bookkeeping and commercial loan administration functions until she and Mr. Spear both retired from their respective occupations on December 31, 1986. As a proud lifelong resident of Spencer, Mrs. Spear was active in various civic projects and was a devoted member of Central Methodist Church in Spencer, where she served in a variety of leadership positions, including six years of service as president of the United Methodist Women. Mrs. Spear also served as president of the Spencer Garden club and as the Chairperson of the Spencer Labor Day Celebration. She also actively assisted and supported Mr. Spear during his long period of civic service, inasmuch as he served as Spencer’s Mayor from 1977 until 1991, and as one of its Aldermen from 1963 until 1977 (and again from 1997 until 2009) In retirement, she and Mr. Spear both remained busy and active with their various civic and church projects. They were instrumental in helping with the initial organization and opening of the North Carolina Transportation Museum and they served the Museum as active volunteers in various functions for 25 years. In addition to her parents and her husband, Mrs. Spear was preceded in death by her two brothers, Lloyd Stafford “Skinny” Pierce and John Roland Pierce (both of Charlotte), and her two sisters Dorothy Pierce Sebastian and Virginia Pierce Grubb (both of Spencer). She is survived by her son, the aforementioned Samuel Edgar Spear and his wife Linda Williams Spear, both of Charlotte. She is also survived by two grandchildren - Courtney Spear Roth of Portland, Oregon (and her husband Daniel), and Nathan Andrew Spear of Cornelius, North Carolina (and fiancee' Amanda Farr). Visitation will be from 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at Summersett Funeral Home Funeral service will be held at Summersett Memorial Chapel at 3:00 PM Wednesday, June 26, 2019 with the Reverend Don Mason presiding. Interment will follow at Chestnut Hill Cemetery. Memorial may be given to a charitable organization of the donor’s choice.

Mrs. Julia Pierce Spear

August 14, 1924 - June 22, 2019