William Hugh Spruell, Jr. M.D.
November 2, 2011
William Hugh Spruell, Jr., was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Russellville, Alabama. He graduated with honors from Columbia Military Academy and earned his degree in medicine from the University of Tennessee. He accepted a commission as Captain in the United States Air Force to train in aerospace medicine, receiving an Outstanding Service Award. Hugh completed his residency in medicine and his fellowship in rheumatology at Emory University, where he was also Chief Resident and Instructor in Medicine. Hugh was board certified in medicine and rheumatology for over thirty-five years, founding his private practice in internal medicine and rheumatology in 1972. In 1974, Hugh accepted an ongoing appointment as Medical Director of Agnes Scott College and actively supported the Arthritis Foundation for over three decades. For the past twenty years, Hugh had been Medical Director of Honduras Outreach, traveling to Honduras twice annually to minister and treat poverty-stricken families. Hugh and his wife Nancy supported a number of students from the Honduras, sending them to university as well as nursing and medical schools. In 2007, he received the Julius McCurdy Citizenship Award from the DeKalb Medical Society. Author of several medical treatises, Hugh also published two collections of poetry, Poverty’s Child and The Not So Empty Swing, a book on the art of practicing medicine, Bedside Manners, as well as a remembrance of his youngest son Brian. Beloved father of five children and their families: William Hugh “Blue” and Mitsuko Spruell, III, and grandchildren Sayer Xavier and Miya Louise Spruell; Stephen Courtney and Toshie Outlaw-Spruell, and grandchildren Ko Alexander, Kai Claiborne, and Nina Louise Outlaw-Spruell; Alexandra Louise Outlaw and Jason William Mahn; Kyle Montgomery Hudson; and Brian Andrew Spruell and Christina Marie McCorkle, and grandchild Kiersten Michelle Spruell. Hugh and wife Nancy Choate Spruell were married twenty-eight years and made their home in Lilburn, Georgia. The family will receive guests between 5 and 7 p.m. on Friday, November 4, 2011, at A.S. Turner & Sons, 2773 North Decatur Road, Decatur, GA 30033 and between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m., immediately preceding the memorial service at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 5, 2011, at Snellville United Methodist Church, 2428 Main Street East, Snellville, GA 30078. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Honduras Outreach, Inc.