Blanche Seretha Spigner

Blanche “SeRetha” Spigner, age 80, was called home on Friday, August 31, 2018 at Duke Hospital in Durham NC.  This is the same hospital that she retired from after over 30 years of service.

Blanche or Retha as most of her friends know her by, was born February 19th 1938 in Columbia South Carolina.  She was the eldest of thirteen brothers and sisters: William Stokes (Bubba), Samuel Stokes (Lee), Robert Stokes (Barbara Jean), Marvin Stokes, Marion Stokes (Jap), Barbara Hunt, Mary Simmons, Debra Stokes, Gwendolyn Stokes, Steven Stokes, Henry Stokes (June) (deceased), Charles Spigner (deceased), Georgianna Pearline Stokes, Aunt Louise (more like her sister).

Retha attended Booker T Washington in Columbia South Carolina before taking root in Durham, North Carolina.  She spent her whole life caring for her family, immediate and extended.  She was a phenomena cook and spent her career using those skills to provide hundreds, if not thousands, of people with real home cook meals.  She received several recognitions and honors from Duke for her years of exemplary service as a as a Nutritional Dietary Specialist.  She was often fulfilling special meal requests by employers, friends, and family. 

Retha’s favorite holiday was Christmas.  She always wanted her home to shine bright during the festive holiday’s.  She also made sure that every child had a present and that family/friends always had somewhere they could go to during the holidays.

Retha is survived by her four children:  Carole Spigner, Tony Spigner, Pam Spigner and Victor Cooke w/ wife Irania (Rainey) Hamilton-Cooke.  As well as a host of grand and god kids:  David, Myles, Sabrina, Victoria, Navia, Ebony, Desi, Justin(s), Rapheal, Diamond, Corey, Michael, Mackenzie, Jermaine, Kilar, Jayden, and Cameron.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Blanche Seretha Spigner, please visit our floral store.