Constance Elaine Spivey Wiatt passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at The Chesapeake Retirement Community.  She was 97 years old.

Born June 22, 1925, in Hampton, Virginia, Connie graduated from Jackson High School in Jackson, North Carolina and attended Louisburg College in Louisburg, North Carolina.  She was an active member of North Riverside Baptist Church, taught Sunday School for 25 years, and served as chairman of numerous committees.  Connie also served as a deacon and as a delegate to the Southern Baptist Convention.  She believed that being a Christian meant reflecting Christ in one’s life.

During World War II, Connie worked for a shipping company and later as a secretary for what became NASA.  When her children were older, she worked at The Daily Press, Warwick High School, and North Riverside Baptist Church.

Connie was a Registered Professional Parliamentarian and served in that role for various organizations, including the Peninsula Baptist Association.  In 1992, she was among 30 parliamentarians who traveled to Russia and participated in a cultural and political exchange with Russian government officials.  She was a past president of the Hidenwood Elementary School PTA and a past president of the Warwick Junior Woman’s Club.  One of her proudest achievements was her service as chairman of the Virginia Baptist Interracial League during the tense time of the Civil Rights Movement.

Connie was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, George Campbell Wiatt.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd Bernard Spivey and Lottie Futrell Spivey, sister Marjorie Spivey Benson, brother William Spivey and her friend Ambert Dail.

Survivors include her children Alexander Lloyd Wiatt and his partner Karen Necsary, George Campbell Wiatt, Jr. and his wife Rhonda, Thomas Taliaferro Wiatt, Laura Campbell Wiatt Beavers and her husband John; grandchildren Alexander Todd Wiatt, II, Christopher Campbell Wiatt and his wife Michelle, Sarah Beavers Yi and her husband Scott, Anne Wiatt Hunter and her husband Michael, and John David Beavers; great-grandchildren Lex and Frankie Wiatt, Emily and Charlotte Yi, and Madeline, Benjamin, and William Hunter.  She is also survived by her sisters Nelda Slade and June Parker and sister-in-law Gladys Spivey.

The family will receive friends at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Connie’s Life on Thursday, May 11, at 11:00 a.m. at The Chesapeake, with the Reverend Stephen Crane officiating.  A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the VBH Foundation, 3961 Stillman Parkway, Glen Allen VA 23060.  Reference the Chesapeake Benevolence Fund.

Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601.