Oscar Smith Spivey M.D.

Oscar Smith Spivey, M.D. died on Monday, July 18, 2016. He was born in Macon on October 3, 1925 to Dr. Oscar Smith Spivey and Eugenia Lowe Spivey. Dr. Spivey leaves his wife Rosa Schofield Spivey, his first and only true love.

After the untimely death of Oscar’s father in 1929, his mother married Dr. Hall Farmer in 1935 and Oscar gained a dear sister, Ruth Norton Farmer. Oscar Spivey graduated from Lanier High School and was accepted into the Navy V-12, an accelerated education program during WW ll. He graduated from Mercer University and the Medical College of Georgia, and completed his medical training at Tulane University and Charity Hospital in New Orleans, at that time the largest hospital in the country. On completion of his pediatric medical training in 1950, he reported to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Pensacola where he was part of the Air Search and Rescue Unit at Corry Naval Airbase.

Returning to Macon with Rosa in 1954, Dr. Spivey joined his stepfather’s pediatric practice and became involved in the Macon community including early planning for a pediatric floor in the Macon Hospital and participating in Sabin Sundays and other polio vaccination drives. After 27 years in private pediatric practice, Dr. Spivey became the founding Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the Mercer University School of Medicine. While there, he and others recognized the need for a dedicated children’s hospital serving central Georgia, which led to the birth of The Children’s Hospital at the Medical Center of Central Georgia in 1987. He continued as Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Mercer (1982 -2000), and as Chief of the Department of Pediatric Education and Medical Director of the Children’s Hospital, and was honored by the Medical Center of Central Georgia for 31 years of service and dedication.

Dr. Spivey was a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Macon Rotary Club, the Bibb County Medical Association, Palaver Club, U.S Closed, and Vineville Methodist Church. He was recognized by many for his tireless dedication to the medical care of the children of Georgia, serving as President of the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and receiving awards that included the Physician of the Year Award from the Bibb County Medical Society (2000), the Founding Father of Pediatrics Award from Mercer University (2000), the Humanitarian Award from MedCen Healthcare (2005), and the Leila D. Denmark, M.D. Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (2014). His many contributions are recognized by the Oscar Spivey, M.D. Child Advocacy Award that is provided to outstanding young pediatricians in training at Children’s Hospital/Mercer University.

Dr. Spivey is survived by his love and wife of 65 years, Rosa Schofield Spivey, his sister Ruth Farmer Barnett (William), his children Eugenia Spivey VanDerKloot (Bill), Oscar Smith Spivey Jr. (Vicki), Rosa Schofield Spivey (John Steffens) and John Shepley Spivey. His nine grandchildren survive him: Monroe Spivey, Oscar Smith Spivey lll, William VanDerKloot, John VanDerKloot, Gena Steffens, Leah Steffens, Shep Spivey, Mary Spivey and Rosalee Spivey; as do many treasured and dear cousins and friends, including his friend and caregiver Lena Billingslea, who brought the love and care of Delois Jordan, LaShay Gibson, Hyacinth Rozier, Ava Cambell, Dorothy Gates, Jane Sanders, Kim Jackson and Janada Jones to Oscar and Rosa’s life.

A Celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 AM Friday at Vineville United Methodist Church. Burial will be held at a later date in Riverside Cemetery. Dr. Jimmy Asbell, Dr. Marcus Tripp, and Rev. Jimmy Duke will officiate. The family will greet friends following the memorial service on Friday in the sanctuary and asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Children’s Hospital – Navicent Health, 777 Hemlock Street, Macon 31201.

Visit www.snowsmacon.com to express tributes.

Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.