Robert Atwood Spivey (92) of Bradenton, Florida died on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. He was born in Suffolk, Virginia on May 25, 1931, to the late Joseph Atwood Spivey and Wortley Roberts Spivey. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Martha Emily Crocker Spivey (also of Suffolk), by his son, Matthew Lee Spivey (Tallahassee, Florida), brother Joseph Roberts Spivey (Smithfield, Virginia) and sister Linda Spivey Pruitt.
Survivors include two of his three children and spouses: Hope Crocker Spivey Stephenson (Jeff Stephenson) of Palmetto, FL, Lisa Applegate Spivey of Tallahassee, FL, and Paul Atwood Spivey (Cynthia Hicks Spivey) of Palm Coast, FL, five grandchildren: Sarah Spivey Stephenson, James Fechet Stephenson III, Robert Andrus Stephenson, Bradley Atwood Spivey and Lee Ann Spivey, nephew Ronald Atwood Spivey (Patricia Finley Spivey), nieces Katherine Cottingham Hobbs (Mark Grochmal), Elizabeth Leigh Hobbs and Carol Spivey Bell, five great nieces, Meredith Prince Harris, Martha Caitlin Prince Antinori, Sarah Rebecca Hoffman, Meredith Spivey Parks and Amanda Spivey Rogers, two great grandsons, Ford Atwood McAdams and Cameron Declan Stephenson, and many other beloved family members, especially in the West and Spivey families.
Bob graduated from Duke University in 1953 where he received a Bachelor of Arts, Suma Cum Laude. He also attended Union Theological Seminary in New York City from 1954-1956 and earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He attended George August University of Gottingen, Germany on sabbatical from 1956-1957. After returning to the United States, he earned a PhD with highest honors in Philosophy from Yale University (1957-1960).
From 1960 to 1964, he taught at Williams College as an assistant professor of religion. In 1964, he brought his wife and 3 children to Tallahassee, Florida where he started his career at Florida State University. He founded the Religion Department at FSU (where a Chair is held in his honor). Other positions at FSU included chaplaincy, professor, Dean of Arts & Sciences and Provost. In 1969, he co-authored a text book called "The Anatomy of the New Testament" with D. Moody Smith (Duke University) and later on with C. Clifton Black. In 2019, "The Anatomy" celebrated its 8th Edition. He also wrote such books as Religious Issues in American Culture and Religious Issues in Western Civilization. Spivey also was a contributor to academic journals, including the Journal of Church and State, Interpretation, and Southwestern Journal of Social Education. During another sabbatical (from FSU) Bob attended the University of Cambridge, in England, from 1971-1972.
From 1978 to 1987, Bob was the President of Randolph-Macon Women's College in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was also Chancellor at R-MWC from 1987-1988. From 1988 to 1998, he served as President for the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges in Richmond, Virginia. In 1998, he and his wife returned to Tallahassee and FSU where he worked with the FSU Foundation and held the position as Ombudsman until 2014.
Bob was a volunteer with the Quest Life Skills program for about 20 years. Quest is a 16-week course run by inmates at Wakulla Correctional Institution dealing with subjects such as taking responsibility, anger management, restorative justice and parenting at a distance. Bob was passionate about second chances and personal growth.
He was a member of the American Academy of Religion, Society for Values in Higher Education where he served in a variety of positions including president, the Society of Biblical Literature and the Society for New Testament Studies. He was a deacon at First Baptist Church of Tallahassee for 14 years where he loved to teach the college Sunday School class. He and his wife were devoted members of the Deer Lake United Methodist Church in Tallahassee. Bob taught the Serendipity Sunday School class for years. Bob and Martha played tennis together for many years and were ranked 4th in the State of Florida for amateur husband-wife team competition. While living in Virginia they won the amateur MALTA US Open qualifier and participated in the amateur US Open.
Bob was a family man, a generous friend, an athlete, a believer of lifelong education and a man with a heart full of love for God and people. He will be deeply missed.
Burial will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suffolk, Virginia. A date will be announced for the spring 2024. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to your favorite charity.
