Avalee Spinks

Spinks, Avalee, age 71, beloved daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend passed away peacefully on February 17, 2018, surrounded by family and dear friends after a brief illness. A life-long resident of Decatur, GA, she graduated from Decatur High School in 1965, Mercer University of Atlanta, and Georgia State University with a Master's Degree. Avalee was an accomplished swimmer/diver, basketball and softball player winning numerous ribbons, medals, trophies, championships, and even setting a few records along the way. She worked at the Decatur Methodist Children's Home while in college, became the DeKalb Dynamos swim coach, and then began her Health and P.E. teaching career at Mercer University in Atlanta. After several years at Mercer, she then became the Health and P.E. teacher at Lakeside High School in DeKalb County until retirement in 2007. She was the swim team coach at Lakeside, taking the Viking’s to many state finals and winning two state championships.
Avalee was preceded in death by her parents, Gladys and Robert Lanier, Sr., of Decatur, GA, and Charles J. Spinks, Sr. of Stone Mountain, GA who was tragically killed in an accident before her birth and whom she met in Heaven for the first time.
Avalee is survived by her brothers, Charles J. Spinks, Jr. and his wife, Jeanne, of The Villages, FL, and Robert "Bobby" L. Lanier, Jr. and his wife, Gail, of Lilburn, GA; sister, Lillian L. Nix and her husband, Dennis, of Snellville, GA; four nieces, Joni Graves and her husband, Tom, of Buford, GA, Erin King and her husband, Matt, of Winder, GA, Kelsey Lanier of Lilburn, GA, Holly Nix of Snellville, GA; two nephews, Chuck Spinks and his wife, Erin, of Madison, GA, and Kerby Lanier of Como, CO; five great nephews, Wyatt, Rhett, and Shep Spinks, Joshua Graves, and Grayson King; two great nieces, Riley King and Mae Spinks; many caring cousins; many cherished friends; and her beloved Yorkie, "baby," Stitch.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at A.S. Turner & Sons. Services will be held at Noon Thursday, February 22, in the chapel of A.S. Turner & Sons, Decatur with Reverend Jim Crutchfield officiating. Interment will be held at Carmel Church, Mansfield, GA.