Meet JD
Julius D. “JD” Spain, Sr. is well known in the Arlington community for his dedication to service. JD’s passion for serving the community goes back to his childhood, deeply rooted in his upbringing in his hometown, Conway, South Carolina.
“My entire career has been focused on public service because of a sense of duty and service that my parents instilled in me at a very young age.”
— JD Spain, Sr.
JD’s parents and grandparents were servant-leaders; he saw them giving back to the community daily.
“My mother was a missionary; my father was a master electrician who helped neighbors who would not otherwise be able to afford his services, and they both volunteered in many ways in Conway. They were role models for their three children, influencing my brother Issac and me to enlist in the Marine Corps to serve our country.”
JD began his military service when he graduated from Conway High School in 1990. After graduating boot camp he soon traveled to 29 Palms, California, where he met a fellow Marine arriving at Palm Springs Airport. His offer to help the self-sufficient Marine with her bags changed his life forever and brought many blessings. Fast forward, JD and the former Adriana Contreras recently celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary.
JD and Adriana are the proud parents of three children, all Arlington County Public School graduates, and a wonderful granddaughter. Their three children attended Virginia public universities: William & Mary, Parsons School of Design, NYC, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Arts, and Mary Washington University. During their K-12 years, JD maintained an active presence as a parent volunteer; to this day, he continues to support his children’s school as a current member of the respective PTAs.
“As a Black man with a white great-grandfather and a proud husband to a Mexican wife, my family and I appreciate the value of diversity and multiculturalism. We have three wonderful adult children, including a granddaughter who is half-East Asian, and we are grateful for the unique perspectives that our family structure brings. Having lived and worked in various culturally diverse areas worldwide, we have gained a broad and informed view on various issues, which has helped us relate to changing demographics. We believe that diversity enriches our lives, and we are always excited to hear from other families with similar experiences. Diversity is our strength.”
