Melba Faye Spivey Long: Tabor City

1939 – 2023

     Melba Faye Spivey Long of Tabor City died Thursday, June 8,, in Columbus Regional Healthcare, Whiteville. She was 84.

     Born March 30, 1939, in Columbus County, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Dalton Spivey and Gertie Lee Simmons Spivey and the widow of William Perry Long, her husband of 52 years.

     She is survived by three sons, William David Long (Tonya Long) of Whiteville, Terry DeWayne Long (Kelly Gann) of Tabor City, and Joseph Calvin Long (Gregory Gore) of Aynor; two sisters, Elouise Phipps of Tabor City and Rosa Lea Caines of Wilmington; seven grandchildren, Christopher Michael Long (Jessica Long) of Tabor City, Zachary Andrew Long of Whiteville, Alex Hunter Long (Hannah Long) of Brandywine, Maryland, Heather Reneè Murray (Jordan Murray) of Loris, Taylor DeAnn Coleman of Tabor City, Dalton DeWayne Long of Loris, and Edward Joseph Gore of Aynor; eight great grandchildren, Christopher Xavier Long, Lucas Dade Long, David Alexander Long, Maddison Quinn Long, Desmond Odin Long, Gracie Carolina Coleman, Jordan Drake Murray, and Anderson Blake Murray; and two great-great-grandchildren, Roxanna Kaye Duncan and Noel Eden Long.

     In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers; Arthur Spivey, and MJ Spivey; and three sisters, Irene Nobles, Pauline Ward, and Frances Nobles.

     Funeral services were planned for 3 p.m. Sunday, June 11, in the Inman Ward Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Rev. Kenneth Smith, burial following in Wright Cemetery, Minos Meares Road, Tabor City.

     Pallbearers, Xavier Long, Chris Long, Hunter Long, Dalton Long, Zack Long, and Lucas Long. Honorary Pallbearers, David Long, Blake Murray, Drake Murray, and Eddie Gore.

     Visitation was planned for the hour preceding services in the chapel.

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