Obituary of Lillian Janice Spann

Lillian Janice Thomas Spann, widow of E. Wilbur Spann, died Wednesday, August 23, 2023. Born September 9, 1928, in Hemingway, SC, she was the oldest child of John W. Thomas and Lillian Bell Roberts. In 1945, Mrs. Spann graduated as Valedictorian at Greeleyville High School in South Carolina. She attended Flora MacDonald College and received a certificate degree in Business Administration. She also graduated from USC with a BS in Business Administration, a Masters in Elementary Education in 1974 and did 30 hours of post-graduate work in Early Childhood Education. In 1949, she married E. Wilbur Spann, a Sumter County farmer. They raised cows, hogs, soybeans, and corn on the farm. Mrs. Spann taught school at St. Anne Catholic School for 6 years and for 26 years taught at Wilder Elementary School. After retirement she substitute taught for 22 years in Sumter area schools. She was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she taught the Fellowship Class for over 50 years. For 12 years, she participated in the Disciple Bible Study Program and facilitated/directed that program for 9 years. For more than 50 years, Mrs. Spann was a member of the Dick Anderson Chapter #75 of the UDC. She was also a member of the Home Chapter of the DAR and also an active member in the American Legion Auxiliary. She is survived by her four children, John H. Spann (Marena) of Sumter, Gerri Spann Rowell of Trumbull, CT, Miriam Spann Bridges of Raleigh, NC, and Janice Elizabeth “Libby” Spann of Southern Pines, NC. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Wesley Spann (Jennifer), Marshall Spann, Rebecca Spann Osteen (Cory), Ryan Spann and Tyler Bridges; six great-grandchildren, Kathryn Spann, Mariah Spann, Harley Spann, Camdyn Osteen, Easton Osteen, and Johnathan Spann. She was predeceased by her parents and four siblings, John Bryant “Bud” Thomas (Sara Ann Tiller Thomas), Robert Lamar Thomas, Sr. (Patricia Baggett Thomas), William H. “Billy” Thomas (Connie Thomas) and Miriam Gilbert Thomas. Funeral Services will be held at 3 P.M. Sunday at the Trinity United Methodist Church, Sumter, SC with Rev. Joseph James officiating. Burial will follow in the Sumter Cemetery Pallbearers will be Wesley Spann, Marshall Spann, Ryan Spann, Cory Osteen, John Thomas, Bobby Thomas, and Ellison Thomas. Her family will receive friends at the church from 2 P.M. to 3 P.M. Sunday at Trinity United Methodist Church and other times at the home of her son, John H. Spann, 1525 E. Brewington Road, Sumter. Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 226 W. Liberty Street, Sumter, SC 29150 or to a charity of one’s choice. The family would like to thank her caregivers Deloris Purcell, Justice Slater and Sandy Ketchum. Online condolences may be made at www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.