Albert Grady Spinks grew up on his parents' farm in Kemper Co., MS, where he attended grade and high school. He graduated from Mississippi A&M (now Mississippi State Univ.). in 1913 and went into Agricultural Extension work, spending some of that time as county agent. He worked for a short time in St. Louis, MO. In the 1920's he began farming operations in the Mississippi Delta (Tunica Co.). In the early 1930's. he contracted TB and spent a time at Sanitorium, MS. Upon discharge he worked for several years as farmer advisor for a sweet potato starch factory in Laurel, MS. In the later 1930's he and his family moved to Bolivar County, MS, where he began a farming operation near Pace, MS, and later at Malvina, MS. In 1946, he bought a farm known as Dry Bayou Plantation located on HW-8 between Pace and Rosedale, MS, where he and his wife lived out their lives.
Helen Burnice Fox grew up in a lumberman's family near Ovett, Ms, and later in Laurel, MS. She attended grade school in Ovett and later in Laurel where she graduated from high school. In 1919 she graduated in Chemistry from Industrial Institute and College of Mississippi (Later Miss. State College for Women-MSCW), finishing in 3 years. She took additional courses at the University of Chicago, Colorado Agricultural College, and Cornell University. She started study on her MA degree at Columbia University in New York City in June 1925 and received that degree in June of 1926.
The fall of 1926, Helen Bernice Fox began teaching chemistry and science at Ensley High School in Birmingham, AL. That career was cut short by her marriage, 23rd of December of that year.
Both Albert and Helen Spinks were active in church and civic affairs of Bolivar Co. Ms, and of the Miss. Delta. Albert was a deacon in the Rosedale Baptist Church, and was an active Rotarian. He served for a number of years on the local loan approval board of the Federal Land Bank. Helen was active in DAR and in the Episcopal Church.
Albert Grady Spinks passed away 12 SEP 1970, and Helen Fox Spinks passed away 22 MAY 1972. Both are buried at Lake Park Cemetery in Laurel, Ms.
The children of Albert Grady Spinks and Helen Burnice Fox are: