Obituary of Ruth Spiva

ROCHESTER, New York – May 27, 2025 Ruth Spiva was born on April 24, 1933, in Sturgis, Mississippi, one of eight children born to the late Theodore and Willie Spiva. In 1940, the Spiva family relocated to Noxapater, Mississippi and Ruth attended Noxapater Vocational High School where she received her diploma in 1953. She attended church with her family and gave her life to Christ in her youth. Ruth married Lee Thompson in June 1962 and later moved to Rochester, NY to live with her sister Mary and husband Junior Frazier and family. Ruth worked for many years for Staub’s Dry Ceaners formally located on East Main Street. Ruth was a longtime member of the Aenon Missionary Baptist Church joining under the Pastorate of Rev. Murphy “Pop” Greer. She was a faithful member of the Aenon Missionary Ministry and the Kitchen committee. Ruth loved family and was an integral presence at the Spiva Family reunions. She enjoyed the fish fry’s and fashion shows and proudly wore family reunion t-shirts. Ruth enjoyed gospel music especially quartet singing in which some of her brothers (John Daniel and Wert Lee) used to be in a group back in Mississippi. She also enjoyed playing Bingo in her spare time. Despite her challenges, later in life, Ruth enjoyed church when she could, watching services online. Ruth was excited to watch the two services that captured the sermons preached by the pastoral candidates. While still in the hospital, she was able to cast her vote to select a new pastor. Ruth is preceded by her parents, Theodore and Willie Spiva, sister Mary (Junior) Frazier. Brothers; John Daniel (Lula) Spiva, Robert D. (Celest) Spiva, Wert Lee (Annie Pearl) Spiva, Theodore Allen Spiva, and Gus Willis (Beatrice) Spiva; a special “sister”, Cousin Mary Francis (Vern) Warfield; nephews and nieces, Davis (Annie Pearl) Carter, Crystal (Eric) Walker, Annie Jane Spiva, Wendi Spiva and Wendell (Yolanda) Spiva. Ruth leaves to cherish her memory, brother, James Howard (Lucille) Spiva, nephews and nieces, Jared Spiva, Tracy Porter, Vincent (Pamela) Coleman, John Spiva, Jr., Terry Spiva, Rowena Henson, Michael (Stacy) Spiva, Kenneth (Annie Pearl) Spiva, Robert (Angela) Spiva, Jr., Gwendolyn (Alvin) Willis, Rev. Ricky Frazier, Kenneth Frazier and Brenda (Willie) Bullard. She also leaves a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews, church family, special friends including Annie Graham, Sister Mary G. Jackson, the Chatmon sisters, Betty Houston, Sharyn Coley-Achille, and a host of friends. Friends may call Monday, June 16 from 10:00 – 11:00 AM at Aenon Baptist Church, 175 Genesee Street, Rochester, NY. The Funeral Service to Celebrate her life will be immediately follow with Rev. Robert Miller, officiating. Interment Riverside Cemetery, Rochester, NY.