Thomas Trotman Spivey, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, godfather, and friend, passed away on September 22, 2026, at the age of 87.

Born on April 13, 1939, in Perquimans County, North Carolina, to the late Ernest A. Spivey and Cornelia J. Spivey, Thomas lived a life grounded in integrity, honor, and deep conviction. He proudly served his country in the Army National Guard of North Carolina, receiving an Honorable Discharge. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sarah A. Spivey.

Thomas dedicated 33 years of hard work and leadership to Newport News Shipbuilding, serving as a Welding Foreman before his retirement. Never one to stay idle, he continued serving his community after retirement as a beloved York County school bus driver.

A pillar of his community and church, Thomas invested decades into mentoring and guiding others. He served as a Cub Scout Master, President of the Babe Ruth League, and coached Parkview Little League as well as Parkview Baptist Church softball. At Parkview Baptist Church, he served faithfully as Chairman of the Ushers, spearheaded the annual Brunswick Stew—a cherished tradition alongside his passion for cooking awesome barbecue—and was honored as Deacon Emeritus on April 7, 2024. Among his favorite pastimes was his deep love for John Deere tractors and spending time with those he held dear.

Family and Loved Ones

Thomas is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Margaret C. Spivey; his sons, Anthony T. Spivey and his wife, (Cheryl), and Kevin T. Spivey and his wife, (Tammie); his goddaughter, Sherry L. Taylor and her husband, (Aaron); his grandchildren, Anthony T. Spivey Jr. and his wife, (Patricia), Amanda R. Soldan and her husband, (Andrew), and Landon M. Spivey; his great-grandchildren, Hunter J. Spivey, Brayden T. Spivey, and Kayden A. Soldan; and a community of friends whose lives he touched deeply.

Service Details

The family will receive friends for a visitation on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at:

The Lighthouse Church 604 Hilton Blvd Newport News, VA 23605

A funeral service to honor and celebrate Thomas’s life will immediately follow at 12:00 PM at The Lighthouse Church. A graveside memorial service will take place following the church service at Peninsula Memorial Park, with a reception to follow back at the church.

Memorial Contributions

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Thomas's memory to:

The Lighthouse Church 604 Hilton Blvd Newport News, VA 23605