Johanna Kay Hudspeth Spiller

Johanna Kay Hudspeth Spiller November 22, 1936 – October 14, 2025

Kay Spiller, a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and woman of deep Christian faith, passed away peacefully in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, at the age of 88.

She was born in Springfield, Illinois, to Gerald and Rosemary Hudspeth, and spent her childhood and early married years there. In 1966, she and her family moved to McLean, Virginia, where she made a warm and welcoming home for more than three decades. In 1999, Kay relocated to Winston-Salem, where she spent the remainder of her life surrounded by family, faith, and community.

Her life was defined most by the family she built and the people she touched. Hallmarks of her life were her enduring and steadfast love for her husband Larry Spiller, who preceded her in death, and her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She was a lifelong student of the Bible, Christianity and biblical history. Wherever she lived, Kay was an actively involved member of her local church.

She ministered to anyone the Lord called her to serve, often taking in acquaintances and friends in need of a safe and caring space. Through her gift of hospitality, Kay hosted family dinners, out-of-town guests, church Bible studies, prayer groups, and an annual family New Year’s Eve party. Kay never let time or distance stop her from keeping in touch with those she was close to, including former coworkers, high school classmates, extended family, and even her favorite hairdresser.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Kay worked as an aide at Northern Virginia Christian Child Care in McLean. She loved being with young children and helping to guide their growth.

Kay always started her day with a cup of black coffee, the first of many enjoyed throughout the day. In her spare time, she took pleasure in reading and writing poetry, rooting for her beloved Washington football team, tending her rose garden, and feeding birds in her backyard. She loved cats and had several throughout her lifetime. Kay enjoyed antiquing, admired Abraham Lincoln, indulged her sweet tooth with fudge, milkshakes, and Dove chocolates, and was always put together and elegantly dressed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Rosemary Hudspeth; her loving husband of 44 years, Larry Spiller; her sisters, Mary Rollo and Patricia Seketa; and an infant brother, Paul Hudspeth.

Kay is survived by her brothers Lionel, Michael and Richard Hudspeth, and the families of her three children: Patrick Murphy, his wife Donna Colona and their son Patrick; Neil Spiller, his wife Luanne and their children Avian, Piper and Phoenix; and Kimberly Poppante and her children Emma, Leo and Lucas. In addition, Kay has three great-grandchildren – Piper’s sons Banks and Parker, and her stepdaughter Autumn – and Kay’s numerous nieces and nephews. She cherished her family, supporting each person’s individual passions with love and encouragement.

A memorial service to celebrate Kay’s life will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the Hayworth-Miller Lewisville Chapel, located at 6685 Shallowford Road, Lewisville, North Carolina. A reception will immediately follow the service.