Written by. Jude Bokovoy

Tyrone Spates, known as the “Jesus loves you guy,” is one of Monmouth’s newest residents. Standing on the four-way intersection connecting Monmouth Avenue and Highway 99, Spates proudly wears neon clothing and shirts that read “Jesus Loves You,” as he dances and waves for residents to honk and smile at. 

Q: What’s your full name and mission?

A: Tyrone Spates, just to let people know Jesus loves you.

Q: How long have you been in Oregon, where else have you lived?

A: I’m from Memphis, Tennessee, and I’ve been here three years — Salem and here.

Q: How long have you been doing this?

A: For three years — since I got here.

Q: What inspired you to do this?

A: I was in prison. I got in the wrong car, and I get 23 years in the penitentiary. And I had open heart surgery… April 8, I didn’t eat, sleep or take a dump for two weeks. So you know I was in bad shape. I picked up the bible, and I went right to Matthew 7:7 and guess what it says; ‘ask Tyrone and it will be given, seek Tyrone and you will find, knock and the door will open onto you’. I said “Lord, don’t let me down here.” And when I called Him, the mic camera said ‘special report to medical.’ When I called Him, they called me (in). When I called, he came runnin’ for real. And when I got out of prison, I said Imma tell everybody to the end of the world, that You (Jesus) loves me, and you love them too. And that’s what got me doin’ what I do.

Q: What is your goal later in life? 

A: Well, I was homeless for three years. I got me a housing voucher in six months and I couldn’t find no where to go with my voucher. It’s like (having) winning a lottery ticket but can’t cash it in. Lord told me go call Miss Capi Lynn. She works for the Salem Journal newspaper. She’s my angel, my brother said ‘she’s your vessel.’ God used her for a vessel and got me off the street. February 15th my voucher was over with, I called Miss Capi, she said “baby we’re going to do something about this.” She got me right here right now. I stay right there (proudly stating his address) and I got a housing voucher. The whole house is functional, everything been given to me, brand new. And everybody ain’t giving this to the homeless. My mission is to get me something like a food truck to feed the homeless. It’s (there’s) not homeless in Monmouth, but they homeless in Salem. There’s a lot of homeless people in Salem, up on the bridges. So I go where people don’t even go, where churches don’t go. See people using drugs, they need help. I pass out sacks of food, peanut butter sandwich, a bag of chips, a cake and a water bottle. That will go a long ways when you’re homeless. I understand, I used to get it myself, I know how much it would help a person out. I try to do it everyday, I try to record myself doin’ it, but it’s hard when your passin’ out a sack lunch and trying to record myself and do all that at one time. So I just pass out and only let God bless me.

Q: How do you know Miss Capi?

A: I used to stand outside the Salem Journal for six hours every day and wave at traffic. And I was just doin’ it everyday. I just love to do it. She said can I tell your story? I said sure. She put me on the front of the newspaper. There was a big ol’ article about me. She just told everything about me you know. You know I told her about you, (Spates told Capi). I’m going to make sure she puts in that you’re my angel, you’re going to be in the paper too ma’am. I told her last night that I was going to meet you today. 

Q: What’s your newest blessing?

A: Now He blessed me over here at the Chicken House (Kentucky Fried Chicken). I put the application in, she said Tyrone you got the job. From 4:30 p.m. they close at 9:30 p.m. so I don’t know what time I get off. Today’s my first day of work. I’m a dishwasher so I’ve got to watch a tape and then wash the dishes. It’s been 26 years since I’ve had a job. So I don’t know how it’s gon’ go, I really don’t even know. I can’t wait to get up there, my brother said “let your first impression be your best impression.” So I’m going to try that, go with all black on (unlike his typical neon attire accompanied with a Jesus Loves You shirt). I wasn’t getting nothing out here at first. I was just waving, people give me donations sometimes. I sell Jesus Loves You shirts, I ain’t got no more shirts because my funds have had ran out. So when I get some funds I’ll sell more Jesus Loves You Shirts. I give a lot to small kids to inspire them to tell your mothers you love them. My mama held me by the hands. She said son I love you and kissed me. Six hours later she was in the hospital, she had a blood clot in her stomach and she died. I never got the chance to tell her that I love her, and it hurts me everyday. That’s something I’ll hold for the rest of my life. She told me that, but I never got the chance to tell her that. I tell everybody, tell your mother you love her, cause look to your right, look to your left, somebody won’t be there in a minute. People don’t like when I talk like that, but that’s the truth. 

Q: What inspired you to sell T-shirts and what colors do you provide?

A: Well, I can get any color you want. But they say I got to get with the program I got to get black and gold, yella, I want to get all the colors this week. I got size small to a 4x. For $20, and I make $6 off a shirt (0.30% profit) when I sell them. I love standin’ out there and makin’ people smile. I turn your frown into a smile. It takes so many muscles to frown, your whole face stressin’ out. You’ll live longer (if you smile) for real. He (God) ended up blessing the (t-shirt) business. All the blessings delayed, not a blessing denied. So if you’re asking for something and He hasn’t given it to you, just wait he gon give it to you. It took him three years to give me mines. I’d been homeless for three years, my brother said “come back here” I said ‘I can’t go back this is my home.’ If I come back down there in six months, real talk I’d probably be dead — Memphis is warzone for real. I’m so glad to be down here. I can take a walk around. In Memphis, when you park your car to fill up for gas, they jack. So when you fill it up, they take the car. I can’t go home, this is my home up here. 

Q: I heard that The Sippery is going to sell your shirts, is that true?

A: Yes! I’ve got to say something about her too. I sold the lady a shirt in a big ol’ black truck one day. The next morning she called me and said this lady right here Tyrone, she wants to meet you. And you know I didn’t know. She said “I own The Sippery honey you can come into my place and sell your shirts.” I said what? She said “yeah.” I didn’t want to miss it because I want her in the paper too. 

Q: Do you like it when people honk at you?

A: I love it. It’s different here than in Salem. Why I say that, is ‘cause in Salem, if you have an old white man and you an old white woman, she’s got to ask her husband. I watch them, she asks can I wave at him? He say yeah, she goes crazy. But down here, mhm, they don’t do none of that. They wavin’ off the top, it’s different around here. It don’t take a lot to make me happy. You know sometimes it takes cars, money, not me. I just see people smilin’ and I’m happy. 

Q: Do you see yourself stopping at some point?

A: Yep He’ll (Jesus) be back in a minute. Imma stop when he gets back. It ain’t much longer of me doin’ this, no talk, real talk. 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@mail.wou.edu