Rev. William Lavern Spann

Rev. William Lavern “Bill” Spann, 88, of Glade Spring, Va., went to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at Hillview Health Center in Elizabethton, Tenn. 

He was born October 25, 1930, to the late Floyd Spann and Verna Arnold Spann in Hartford, Ala.  Bill was a veteran of the United States Air Force.  He was a graduate of the former Southeastern Bible College in Lakeland, Fla. and served as an ordained minister with the Assembly of God for 59 years in Florida, Alabama, and Virginia.  Most recently Bill served as an associate pastor at the First Assembly of God in Abingdon, Va.  

In addition to his parents, Bill was also preceded in death by his first wife, Neva Johns Spann; two brothers, Harold Spann and Ned Spann; and a sister, Mary Sue Spann.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 30 years, Nola Fern Smith Spann; daughter, Melody Anderson and husband, Martin, of Alachua, Fla.; sister, Mary Sue Spann Riley of Orlando, Fla.; two grandchildren, Amber Joy Gallagher of Williamsburg, Va. and Ariel Brianna Anderson of Alachua, Fla.; and two great-granddaughters, Brianna Gallagher and Hadley Gallagher.   

A funeral ceremony will be held at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, with Pastor Roger Williams officiating.  A committal service will be held at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, Va. at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2019, where military honors will be provided by the Mercer County Veterans Honor Guard. Visitation will be held prior to the service at the funeral home from 5:30 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.    

Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guest register.  The family of Rev. William Lavern “Bill” Spann is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service and Crematory, 427 E. Main St., Abingdon, VA 24210 (276-623-2700).