Mother Catherine Jackson Spears of 3042 Ireland Road, Ashburn, Georgia died Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at the Crisp Regional Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Cordele, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the J. W. Williams Funeral Home Porte Cochere in Cordele, Georgia.  The burial will follow at Westview Memorial Gardens in Ashburn, Georgia.  Everyone in attendance is asked to please wear a mask and to practice social distancing.

On October 21, 1927, the Lord in His infinite wisdom gifted this world with a beautiful and humble light.  Born in Valdosta, Georgia, the seventh and youngest child of Eddie and Eliza Graham Jackson, she was given the name Catherine.  Her parents and her siblings, Thelma, Hill, Ruth, Rosa Lee, Josephine, and Eddie Mae, each precede her in death.

She heard the voice of Jesus speaking at an young age.  Heeding the call, she united with the Church of Christ.  As she continued her walk with the Lord, she united with the Pine Hill Missionary Baptist Church of Arabi, Georgia where she served as a Deaconess and Mother of the Church.   Along with her devotion to the Lord and service to God's  people, Mother Spears sang with the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Choir of Sibley, Georgia for many years.

On September 6, 1947, she was joined in holy matrimony to Albert Brother Spears, Sr.  Together they shared 56 years of marriage.  He went home to be with the Lord on January 17, 2004.  Her children, James  Holton and Dorothy Ann Spears; her great grandchild, Jalin Jones and her great, great grandchild, Kensly Kamille Yancey, and her in-laws, Sally Spears, Louise Spears, and Margaret Spears, precede her in death also.

Almost one week after celebrating her 94th birthday, the Lord in His infinite wisdom called her name.  While our hearts are sad, we are thankful for her love and her legacy.  A legacy of caring and nurturing.  She will be remembered for the hospitality she shared as others ate meals in her home, especially when she shared her hobbies of cooking Biscuits, Blackberry Doobie, and Fried Chicken.  When not watching her favorite shows:  Sanford & Son, The Golden Girls, Wheel of Fortune, The Price is Right or any good Western, she spent her time fishing, gardening and playing checkers.

Anyone who ever lived in or visited her home welcomed the sounds of Gospel music ringing as she listened to Mahalia Jackson, Shirley Caesar, The Caravans, and The Canton Spirituals.  The words to her favorite songs, "Lord, Keep Me Day by Day," "I Remember Mama in a Special Way," "Grandma's Hands," "Sweeping Through the City," and "Oh Mary Don't You Weep" will forever hold a special place in the hearts and minds of her family.   She lived a humble life and believed in the message of safety found in her favorite scripture, Psalm 23.

Reflections of her life will forever live on in the hearts of her loving and devoted children, Deacon Albert Spears, Jr. of Ashburn, Georgia,  Reverend Robert L. Spears (Reverend Vera) of Ashburn, Georgia, Deacon Eddie Spears of Ashburn, Georgia, Reverend William Spears (Marvis) of Albany, Georgia, Minister Larry Spears (Lula) of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Chairman Deacon Leon Spears (Minister Kathy) of Cordele, Georgia, Minister Leroy Spears (Alisia) of Loganville, Georgia, Donald Spears (Minister Melissa) of Arabi, Georgia, Cynthia S. Clark (Willie) of Arabi, Georgia, Calvin Spears (Sidney) of Dallas, Georgia and Maybelline Spears of Arabi, Georgia; 39 grands; 75 great grands; 24 great, great grands; her sister-in-law, Carrie Lou Spears of Atlanta, Georgia; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and a multitude of loving friends.