Kaye Culver Brinkley Spalding was born on Nov. 18, 1939 in the community of Liberty Spring in Nansemond County, Virginia. She moved to Richmond in 1950 with her parents, Dorothy and Parke Culver Brinkley, and her brother, Richard Fairlie Brinkley. She was a graduate of Collegiate School and Hollins College and she received her master’s degree in history from the University of Richmond after completing her thesis, entitled “Immigrants in Richmond, Virginia: Lebanese, Armenians, and Greeks 1900-1925.” She taught world history at Tuckahoe Junior High (1961-1963) and government at Collegiate School (1971- 1972). She was also an adjunct instructor of history at the University of Richmond from 1984-1994.
Kaye was a former member of the boards of the Woman’s Club, St. Joseph’s Villa, Flagler Home, the Virginia Center for the Book, the Esther Thomas Atkinson Museum of Hampden-Sydney College, the William Byrd Community House, and the Collegiate School Alumni Board. She was also a docent at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for many years.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Henry Cannon Spalding Jr.; and their three children, Mary Parke Spalding Holland and her husband Wes, Henry Cannon Spalding III and his wife Wendi, and Maria Spalding Hadlow and her husband Patrick; as well as six grandchildren, Benjamin Spalding, Emily Spalding, Robert Holland, William Holland, Seth Hadlow and Parker Hadlow. She is also survived by her brother, Richard Fairlie Brinkley; and close cousin, Aubrey Morgan; as well as her nieces, Susan Blair Morgan Huck and Jane Ewell Morgan Cason; in addition to her nephews, Eugene Lombard Morgan, John Parke Brinkley and Pierce Sydnor Brinkley. Also left to cherish her memory is her lifelong friend, Mason Henley Beazley.
Kaye kept her loved ones well-appointed in smocked clothing, hand-knit sweaters and needlepoint belts, as she was an avid needlework enthusiast. She also enjoyed traveling, gardening, reading and playing Mahjong with friends.
A resident of both Richmond and Gloucester, Virginia, Kaye died peacefully on Dec. 21, 2017, surrounded by her loving family, at home in Richmond after a long and valiant fight against cancer.
The family would like to thank her many caregivers for their empathetic attention.
A memorial service was held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, at St. James’s Episcopal Church, 1205 W. Franklin Street, Richmond, with a reception immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Joseph’s Villa, Development Office, 8000 Brook Road, Richmond, Virginia 23227; or to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Foundation, for use by the docent program, 200 N. Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia 23220.