Royce Gillespie

Royce Nelson Gillespie, 91, of Spartanburg passed away peacefully on Monday, February 1, 2021. Born on July 24, 1929 in Arcadia, SC, he was the son of the late William Moten and Mary Eleanor Copeland Gillespie. He attended North Greenville Junior College and graduated from Wofford College with a BA in English in 1950. He married the love of his life, Betty High Gillespie on December 23, 1950 in High Shoals, NC. After serving in the U.S. Army and spending 10 months in Korea during the War, he and Betty and their first-born daughter, Myra, moved to Spartanburg. There he worked for Burton Shirt Manufacturing. His daughter, Miriam, and son, Joel, were both born while in Spartanburg. In 1957, the family moved to Laurens, SC where Royce began his thirty-six year career with Milliken and Company as a certified management accountant. After a 5-year period, Royce was transferred back to Spartanburg and the family settled there. He was a member of First Baptist Spartanburg where he was actively involved as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and member of the church choir for many years. Royce and Betty designed and built their home in Spartanburg where they have lived for over 60 years. He enjoyed woodworking and made cherished pieces of furniture for his family. Royce was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother. He cherished his family, his friends, and his church. During his retirement years, he enjoyed doing crosswords, having a morning cup of coffee with friends at Bojangles, eating breakfast with friends at the Peach Blossom Diner, volunteering for Mobile Meals and singing in the church choir. He and Betty also enjoyed traveling in the U.S. and overseas along with his brother and sister-in-law. They enjoyed having monthly lunch with friends from Laurens, hosting family reunions, and spending time with their family. Royce is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Betty Gillespie; daughters, Myra Michot (Alain) of Raleigh, NC, Miriam Davis (Ken) of Atlanta, GA, and son Joel Gillespie (Melinda) of Asheville, NC; grandchildren, Aaron Gillespie (Lanny) of Charlotte, NC, Sarah Nakaji (Lane) of Asheville, NC, Kate Meador (Garrett) of Alexandria, VA, Elizabeth Davis of Charlotte, NC and Rebecca Davis of Atlanta, GA, and great-grandchildren, Gigi, Mary-Reid, Norah, Alice, Georgia Reid and Davis. Funeral services will be held 1:30 PM Sunday, February 7, 2021 in the main sanctuary of First Baptist Spartanburg, conducted by The Rev. Robert Neely and The Rev. Sal Barone. Services will be livestreamed from the church for those who cannot attend. Burial will be private. We ask that friends and family wear masks and keep social distancing per the Covid-19 precautions. Due to these circumstances, the family will not be receiving friends. The family is at the home of Betty Gillespie. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Spartanburg Church, The Encouraging Word, 250 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303, or Mobile Meals Service, PO Box 461, Spartanburg, SC 29304. Floyd's North Church Street Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Royce Nelson Gillespie please visit our Sympathy Store.