Spaniel Nero Jr.

Spaniel Nathaniel Nero, Jr., the son of the late Mr. Spaniel and Alta (Dickey) Nero, was born January 28, 1947, in Rutherford County. Spaniel joined the church at an early age. He sang in the choir and became a member of the Masons. His greatest joy came from his love for God, caring for his family, and becoming an educator in the public school system.

Spaniel was a member of the 1965 graduating class of Carver High School in Spindale, NC. After graduation, he attended Winston-Salem State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education. He was employed by the Rutherford County School System and worked for ASCS (Department of Agriculture). During his employment with the Rutherford County Schools, he taught at New Hope Middle School and became Vice Principal of R.S. Central High School.

After retiring from the Rutherford County School System, he and his family moved to Charlotte, NC, where he taught for many years in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System. There, he became very well-known and respected by principals, teachers, and students. He had a gift for handling difficult situations. He was often called on to help teachers and principals solve problems. His colleagues knew they could lean on him for moral support and handled their unruly students. He was known as “Mr. Nee” by some of his students.

Spaniel was a family man. He was known as “brother” to his sisters, uncle bruh to his nieces, nephews, and Nero to his sister and brother-in-law’s. To know Spaniel was to love him. He had a way of inspiring and encouraging everyone he met. Spaniel’s legacy of love for his family, caring, and helping others will live on in the hearts of everyone he touched.

Spaniel answered the call on July 26, 2025 with his family by his side. He was preceded in death by his parents Spaniel & Alta Nero, two sisters and brother-in-law Joyce Alta Camp (Rutherfordton, NC), Robert & Constance Lipscomb (Capital Heights, MD). He leaves behind to cherish his memory his (wife) Arevia Nero, (son-in-law & daughter) Kevin & Sherry Robinson, (son) Spaniel “Trey” Nero, III, (grandson) Kendall Gainey, (granddaughter) Mercedes Robinson, (grandson & granddaughter) Steven & Crystal Gainey, and (great grandson) Kameron Gainey; two sisters and brother-in-law’s, Glen & Rachel Hamilton, Ray & Portia Watkins, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Services will be held at New Bethel AME Zion Church on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 1:00 PM.

Dedication Poem:

God saw the road was getting rough

The hills so hard to climb

He gently closed his loving eyes

And whispered “Peace be Thine”

His days of toil, his nights of pain

The weary hours are past

His every patient worn out frame

Has found sweet peace at last

-The Nero Family