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, and 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 Jr. “Jay” Spears in 1965.

Ruby was a lifelong educator retiring from teaching at 80 years of age. She truly loved teaching children and adults. She especially enjoyed teaching music, drama and church Sunday School. Ruby loved music and spent 70 years playing the piano and organ, directing the choir and bell choir at Flow Harris Presbyterian Church. Ruby was a very active member of Flow Harris Presbyterian Church from Childhood.

She traveled to the NC Outer Banks and SC Beaches with Jay many times. She traveled to England twice. One of her trips was with her son Chris and they saw CATS in the West End of London.

She loved the theater and teaching Drama. Ruby had a thirst for knowledge and thrived on learning new thing. She did enjoy a good hot cup of coffee and some would say she was a coffee fanatic. Ruby had a great love of children and never met a stranger. 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.

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 and friends.

Ruby was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, J. W. Spears, Jr. “Jay” on Dec. 15, 2024, and her parents A. M. 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. Donations may be directed to Flow Harris Presbyterian Church or NW Cabarrus Bible Teaching Association.