Lorelei Harris Spikes, 1956-2020

Lorelei Harris Spikes, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel among American Affinity Peoples in Honduras, Chile, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom, died Nov. 21, 2020, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center. She was 63.

Spikes was born Dec. 31, 1956, in Wyandotte, Michigan, to Wilma Harris (now Landrith) and the late Bobby Harris. After several years in Michigan, she moved to Brooksville, Florida, where she graduated from high school. As a young girl, helping to care for her father after a severe accident, Lori realized that she possessed the desire and the caring qualities needed to serve those suffering from health issues.

She received the Associate of Science in Nursing and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., and spent many years as an ICU nurse.

Soon after choosing to follow Jesus, Lori felt God’s call to serve overseas as a missionary. She took her first step in that direction by serving in Honduras for two years as a journeyman nurse with the International Mission Board. During that service, she met her future husband, Harold James Spikes Jr., who was also part of the same program. After their marriage in 1983, Lori served with Jim in a church in East Texas. Very soon, the Spikeses returned overseas and embarked on a nearly 30 years of ministry with the International Mission Board in various cities in Europe, Chile and Costa Rica.

Throughout her mission career, her family wrote, Spikes was passionate about Jesus and wanted all to come to know Him as she did. She saw nursing as one of her primary vehicles to share God’s love in tangible actions and ministry.

On her return to the U.S. in 2016, Spikes returned to active participation in Baptist Nursing Fellowship. In 2018, the organization selected her to serve as its National Executive Director and Treasurer. In 2019, the Ida Moffett School of Nursing at Samford University honored her with the “Courage to Care” award.

Spikes is survived by her husband of 38 years, Jim Spikes, of Clinton, Mississippi; daughters, Amanda Johnson (Stephen) of Memphis, Tennessee, Allyn Farmer (Cole) of Memphis, and Andrea Spikes of Nashville; five grandchildren; her mother, Wilma Landrith of Clinton; and brothers, Randy Harris (Pam), and Todd Harris (Sheri), both of Spring Hill, Fla.

A private service was held Nov. 25, 2020, with burial in Lakewood Memorial Park, Jackson, Mississippi.

Read an obituary here.