Willie James Spruill was born March 1, 1940, the third of five children, to the late Odell and Canarie Best Spruill in Goldsboro, North Carolina.  He departed this earthly life and entered his eternal rest on May 21, 2026.

Willie grew up in Goldsboro and attended Central Elementary.  He graduated from Central High School in 1959.  While a student at Central High, he served as a school bus driver, and as a member of the National Honor Society and the Student Government.  He, also, was an exceptional basketball player and was named an MVP on the varsity team at Central High School.  A devoted Central High Alumnus, Willie, and his class, founded Central High School Alumni and Friends Inc., currently Central/Eastern Wayne Alumni and Friends, Inc.  He always looked forward to attending annual homecoming celebrations held each Memorial Day weekend.  During his college years, he remained actively involved in his high school Baptist Student Union, Political Science Club, and National Educational Association.

At an early age Willie joined Best Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Goldsboro, where he was a devout member.  During his youth, he also was an active Boy Scout and a dedicated member of the 4-H Club of Wayne County.  Through these organizations, he developed leadership skills, strong character, public speaking abilities, and a spirit of teamwork.  Having been reared on a farm, Willie also gained many practical life skills that served him well throughout his life.

After High School, Willie attended The Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina (North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University [A and T]), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology in 1963.    He remained connected to and supportive of A &T, regularly attending the “Greatest Homecoming on Earth” and other university events. “Say it loud—Aggie Pride!”

Immediately after graduation, Willie was drafted into the United States Army, where he served for two years before receiving and honorable discharge.  After the Army, Willie moved to Washington, DC, to begin his professional career.

He served as a juvenile delinquent counselor at the DC Children’s Center at Cedar Knoll in Laurel, MD, then as a manager with the DC Public Housing Authority, and finally, as a parole officer with the Court Service and Offender Supervision Agency, from which he retired in 1996.  After retirement, he served as a consultant with the Court Service and Offender Supervision Agency for several years.

While working at the DC Children’s Center, he met and fell in love with Christine Jackson.  The two were united in holy matrimony on December 16, 1967, at New Bethel Baptist Church.  From this union a son, Tyerrell Jackson, was born on June 16, 1981.  Tyerrell was born prematurely and lived only six days, leaving his parents devastated.

Willie was a devoted husband, a generous provider, a fierce protector, a compassionate caregiver, and a best friend.  He was humble, respectful, honest, law-abiding, spiritual, and decent; he possessed an exemplary character. As a friend to others, he was loyal and dedicated. 

Willie was a very quiet, thoughtful, compassionate man.  He loved his family dearly, especially his mother, siblings, nieces, nephews, and Spruill and Best relatives.  When he married Christine, he gained another family, the Jacksons, who adored and embraced him as a member.  The young Jackson nieces, nephews, and cousins, all, thought very highly of him.  He would “hold court” with them sitting and listening while he counseled, teased, and gave them “jewels of life.”

Willie was an ardent landscaper and vegetable gardener.  He spent countless hours planting, tending, and harvesting.  His yard, designed in a rock and oriental style, was beautiful.  He and Christine spent copious amounts of time researching and purchasing rare dwarf plants and other botanical accoutrements.

Willie was an avid fan of almost all sports.  His favorite, however, was basketball.    He was passionate about the Washington Commanders and the Washington Wizards, for whose games he held season tickets. He was enthusiastic, too, about the Washington Nationals.  Although he focused on local teams, he loved the Los Angeles Dodgers (formerly the Brooklyn Dodgers) in honor of African American trailblazer Jackie Robinson.

Willie’s philosophy was that we should give back to people, causes, charitable organizations, and specifically HBCUs.  He was a volunteer at the Washington, DC, Police Boys and Girls Club.  He was a surrogate grandfather to two great nephews, whom he tutored, chaperoned, and coached on their little league football and basketball teams.

Willie was a beloved member of his family and community.  He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Christine; his brothers, Leonard (Jacqueline) of Goldsboro, NC, and Zebedee (Kathleen) of Temple Hills, MD, and Samuel Jones of Hampton, VA; his sisters, Deloris S. Price and Priscilla S. Ford (Jimmy) of Goldsboro; his surrogate daughter and goddaughter, Shalonda Jackson, of Severn, MD; three surrogate grandchildren, Kharee, Tyrek, and Raven; brothers-in-law, Walter Harris, Sr. of Spanaway, WA, Calvin J. Jackson, Jr. of Union Spring, AL, Earnest Jackson (Christine) of Hueytown, AL, Richard Hannon of Fairfield, AL, Terry Jackson, Sr. (Jerolene) of Fitzpatrick, Al, and Berard Jackson (Cora) of Montgomery, AL; his sisters-in-law, Betty J. Straughter of Washington, DC, and Brenda J. Penn (Joe) of Montgomery, Al; his godchildren, Christine Hannon, Sheree Jackson, and Calea W. Penn; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.  His life was an inspiration, and his memory will be a benediction.