Ruby Parker Spears

Ruby Parker Spears, 85, of Kannapolis, passed away Monday, September 1, 2025, with family by her side. She was born in Cabarrus County on August 4, 1940, to the late Armond and Ruby Edith Litaker Parker.

She attended Winecoff High School, Wingate College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Ruby married the love of her life, Juneious Walter “Jay” Spears Jr. in 1965.

Ruby was a lifelong educator, retiring from teaching at 80 years of age. She truly loved teaching children and adults in both public school and church Sunday school. Over the years, Ruby not only taught English, drama and music, but also played the piano and organ at Flow Harris Presbyterian Church (70 Yrs.) and served as the choir director. She also shared her love of music by teaching and directing the Bell Choir at her church.

Ruby loved to travel, often and frequently to the NC Outer Banks and SC Beaches with Jay. Although she traveled twice to England, one was more special when her son Chris accompanied her and together they saw CATS in the West End of London. She had a deep love of the arts and theatre which she shared through her teaching of drama. Ruby had a thirst for knowledge and thrived on constantly learning new things. She especially enjoyed a good hot cup of coffee and some would say she was a bit of a coffee fanatic. Ruby had a great love of children, never met a stranger, and touched and influenced countless lives as an educator, friend and advocate. She will be greatly missed.

Those left to cherish her memory include the following: her son, David Christopher Spears (wife, Suzette); grandsons, Jon Scott of Siler City, and Tanner Scott of Concord; three nephews, Michael Spears (wife Janice) of Apex, Mark Newsome (wife Monica), Jeff Newsome (wife “Sissy”) of Kannapolis and sister-in-law, Sylvia Newsome of Concord. Extended family includes Luke and Katie Warner, Everett Warner, Alan and Katlin Spears, August Spears, Terry and Michelle Wheeler, Will Martin, Carlie Blume, Catherine Martin, Aubree Lynch, Avri Vilchis, Sidney Hunter, Shea Haas, Wryn Newsome, Hudson Hass, Charli Schneider, relatives, friends and Sugar (Her Cat). Ruby was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, J. W. Spears, Jr. “Jay” on Dec. 15, 2024, and her parents Armond and Ruby Parker.

Ruby’s family will receive friends and relatives for visitation on Friday, September 5, 2025, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Whitley’s Funeral Home, 1748 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis, NC. A service will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 12:00 PM at Flow Harris Presbyterian Church. Burial will take place at the Carolina Memorial Park, Masonic Section, with Rev. Christine Conrath, former minister of Flow Harris Presbyterian Church, officiating at 2:00PM. The Spears family will receive friends and relatives at Flow Harris Presbyterian Church September 6, 2025 at 4:00PM.

The Spears Family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the excellent care given to Ruby by her primary care physician Dr. Jan Van Ravenstyn, Winecoff Family Practice, and his staff, the entire Hospice nursing staff especially Madison Hicks, RN. A special joy for the Spears family has been the love, care and good humor of the Fabulous Angela Watson, RN and her family John (husband) and sons Tyler (Future Guitar Great) and Grant (Mr. Football).

Donations may be directed to Flow Harris Presbyterian Church or NW Cabarrus Bible Teaching Association. God is good!