Eulogy Delivered at the Funeral of my Maternal Grandfather
May, 1949
"FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH"
Brother W. R. Spann one of the most faithful DEACONS I have known, and with whom
I have labored, during these thirty-eight years of my ministry, has been called into higher
and happier service. His mortal breath ceased Wednesday, May 4th, 1949 at 11:15 a.m.
His humble, yet brave spirit took its flight to realms of peace and laid back the sheet that
covered his peaceful face, and said, "Here lies one of the truest friends I ever had."
We have walked and worked together for nearly twenty years. First Brother Spann was
faithful to his Lord. He loved the God he worshiped. He loved the Lord's house where the
church of Christ assembled. He loved his brethren with whom he labored. He loved and
stood by his pastor, in all of our church life and missionary endeavor. He was literally a
founding Father of the Freeland Baptist Church and a staunch supporter of the Delta Ave.
Mission and the Negro Mission that was organized into the Third Baptist Church (Col.).
Brother Spann was a faithful patriot. He was one of the best informed men in our church
and community on the history and trends of political life. He knew the dependable men of
his city. He held in utter contempt every traitor of truth and integrity. Brother Spann was
a faithful husband and father. He was a gentleman in his home. He was congenial, yet
firm in his home life. He was gracious in reception of visitors; and entertained them with
a radiant glow of Christian courtesy.
We'll miss him more as the days lengthen the shadows of his passing. We'll miss him at
church, at the Deacons' meetings, where he was chairman. We'll miss him in the
community, in our city, and most of all in that home of his lovely family. His family rise
up to call him blessed.
Bunyan Smith, Pastor
Third Baptist Church
Nashville, Tennessee
Recollection: One of my prominent memories of Papa Spann was his reverse integration
of the city buses in Nashville, Tenn. Whenever he and I took the bus together, which was
fairly often, we always sat in the rear of the bus in the "colored" section with the African
American passengers rather than with the other passengers in the "whites only" section of
the bus.