James Lee Spiker

Pastor Jim Spiker went home to be with the Lord on December 10, 2012. He was 61. He was born in Charleston, WV, on April 5, 1951, to the late James L. Rose, Sr., and Betty Wilson. Pastor Spiker was bi-vocational all his life both in the ministry and business. He graduated from Max S. Hayes High School in 1970 and went straight into the Navy to serve during the Vietnam War. He accepted Christ on board the USS Sperry (AS-12) in March of 1972. Jim received an Associate of Science Degree in HVAC from West Side Institute of Technology, graduating as a Third Class Stationary Engineer, and continued his education at Cuyahoga Community College toward an engineering degree. He received his license to preach from Detroit Avenue Baptist Church in March of 1980. In November of 1983, he received his ordination from Detroit Avenue Bible Community Church located in Cleveland, OH. He spent eight years in Cuyahoga Correctional Center as a Volunteer Staff Chaplain until 1989. Jim married June Jordan on October 29, 1977, and worked in partnership, both in the church and business. June and Jim moved to Salisbury on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Jim served in different capacities in various churches throughout his adult life. In 1994, Jim felt called to continue his jail ministry here in the Talbot Detention Center. There he provided one-on-one counseling to the inmates. Most recently, he had been a Pastoral Counselor/Teacher at Next Generation Church in Denton. For the past 17 years, you could find him at Denny’s on Thursday mornings at 6 a.m. at a Men’s Prayer Breakfast. Jim also served as the Chaplain for the Chesapeake Christian Riders (chapter of Christian Motorcyclists Association) since 1994. Jim held various positions in the business world. His latest work had been as a Chief Financial Officer at Construction Unlimited, Inc., for 17 years. He is survived by his wife, June, of 37 years; three sisters, Marcy Morgan and her husband, Casey, of Westlake, OH, and Dawn Goetz and Heather White, both of CA; a stepmother, Joy Rose, also of CA; and many nieces and nephews and brothers and sisters-in-law. In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his sister, Cher Gibson. A visitation will be held on Friday, December 14, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m at Next Generation Church, 10092 New Bridge Road, Denton, MD 21629. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 15 at 3 p.m. at the church, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Interment will be held at the chapel of the Maryland Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery in Hurlock, MD, on Monday, December 17 at 10 a.m.

James Lee Spiker

April 5, 1951 - December 10, 2012