Mrs. Sallie Elizabeth Spottsville

SPOTTSVILLE, Mrs. Sallie Elizabeth - Age 88, passed away Friday, April 17, 2015 at Kennestone Hospital - Marietta, GA. Family hour 10 a.m. Friday, April 24, 2015 at Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church, 2101 Lippincott Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Rev. Gerald Cardwell officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Friday. Mrs. Spottsville will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 1 p.m. - 8 p.m. Thursday. Sallie Elizabeth Gill Spottsville was born on January 25, 1927. She was born and raised in Winnsboro, SC on a farm where food was plentiful as was family. She was the eighth child born to Perry and Ethel Gill. Her father owned and operated a corn mill and saw mill which provided corn products and lumber for those far and near. She and her fifteen brothers and sisters worked on the farm from a very early age. Their family were active members of Shiloh AME Church in Winnsboro. During World War II, Perry began working in Alcoa, TN. In the early 40’s, Sallie and her sister Ethel followed in search of work. Sallie was quite reluctant to make this move as this was one of the few times she would be able to attend school for the entire school year. During planting and harvest season, children did not attend school so they could help with the farming activities, but at age sixteen she moved to TN and worked at Oak Ridge Medical Center during WWII. In 1945, her father’s nephew convinced him to move to Detroit, MI and Sallie soon followed after. She lived in Detroit briefly before settling in Flint, MI seeking employment along with her father. She found immediate employment as a waitress in a local restaurant. Her warm spirit and loving smile have always been a trait sought after by many. Not long after having moved to Flint, a close friend introduced her to Richard Spottsville. It did not take long for him to become the love of her life. She married Richard at age 19, who would become her best friend, loyal and trusted companion, and father of her four children. Sallie and Richard had a great love of family and friends. The two would often visit family members, no matter where they were. Sallie and Richard were married on December 25, 1946. Her father insisted they be married at home in Winnsboro at Shiloh AME Church, the church built by her father and uncles. The wedding was truly an affair to be remembered. Richard fit right in with the family immediately and their families became one. Sallie joined Quinn Chapel AME Church in 1947 where she remained a loyal and active member. She always proudly said, “I was born an AME and that’s the way I’m leaving here”. Sallie was one of the founding members of the Young Women of Quinn and remained engaged in the Layman Organization for the rest of her life. Sallie also began working for Chevrolet Manufacturing in 1947 and retired after thirty-three years of service. During this time she gave birth to four children, Rolanda Joyee Williams (Mike), Richard Spottsville Jr. (Tracy), Gregory Andre Spottsville Sr. and Ruebena Rene Larry (James). She also adopted son David T. Gill. In July of 1996, Sallie laid to rest her trusted companion of 49 years. Sallie remained in Flint and continued being the matriarch of the family. She was affectionately known to many of us as Granny or Aunt Sallie or simply Mrs. Spottsville and she was well known and loved throughout the community. Sallie is survived by her five children; Rolanda (Mike), Richard Jr. “Ricky” (Tracy), Gregory Sr., Ruebena “NaNa” (James), and David “Timmy” Gill and her grandchildren, Tamarra (Julian), Tyoane (Omar), Mario (Sunny), Richard III, Gregory Jr., Kenneth, Jasmine, Terence, Amanee, Jerry and Freddy. She is also survived by sister, Bernice Brown of Flint, MI and sister in law, Ruebena Newsom of Shawneetown, IL. She also leaves to cherish her beautiful memory a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and adopted family. No greater love of family could be found than in Sallie. Everyone knew she had a very deep love for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and they all loved her equally as much if not more. She would often travel to South Carolina and Atlanta, GA gathering family history information, with Cousin Arthur Evans as her wing man. There were few family reunions missed by her and she knew nearly every family member in attendance. Her face was a staple of Gill Family Reunions and will certainly be missed. She lived her last days in Marietta, GA living with daughter Rolanda, until her sunset on April 17, 2015. Sallie had a very loving, but feisty spirit. There was nothing that she would not do for her family or friends. She was an avid sports lover and you could not often find her without the TV on any kind of sports competition. She also loved to play her numbers and cards, especially Pitty Pay and Solitaire. She had a knack for always knowing the right thing to say, even if it was exactly what you didn’t want to hear. She always told you how she felt and what she was thinking. She had a great sense of humor and kept all of us laughing until her last day. Her spirit was infectious and inviting and she was a very rare soul. She will live on in all of our memories and stories. Heaven has gained a beautiful angel. Rest sweet Sallie, your work here is done.

Mrs. Sallie Elizabeth Spottsville

January 25, 1927 - April 17, 2015