Mr. James D. Spann's Obituary
Funeral Service for Mr. James Darwin "Jim" Spann, 78, of Alexander City, Alabama, will be Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 11:30 am at the First Baptist Church Alexander City. Dr. Steve King will officiate. Burial will follow in the Hillview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 9:30 am to 11:00 am at First Baptist Church Alexander City.
James Darwin "Jim" Spann, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend passed peacefully and was called home by our Gracious Father and into the arms of Jesus on June 6, 2024. Born on August 15, 1945, in Cape Girardeau, MO to Otto Forrest Spann, Jr. and Sarah Louise Spann, Jim lived his life anchored in faith, with love and service to others.
Jim grew up in Alexander City, AL with his parents and younger brother Johnny. He was graduate of Benjamin Russell High School and graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering and a minor in Textile Engineering. Upon graduation, Jim worked for NASA as a project engineer on the Saturn V rocket program, followed by a tenure at Burlington Industries in North Carolina before returning home to Alexander City with Russell Corporation in the early 1970's. This was followed by two decades with Russell in various management roles overseeing knitting and weaving operations. Upon leaving Russell in the mid-1990's, Jim was involved in multiple business ventures independently and with business partners, with Town & Country Cleaners still ongoing at the time of his passing.
Jim was regularly involved in many community and civic endeavors throughout his lifetime with a committed devotion to Alexander City. Among the organizations and roles under which he was a member or officer include the following: Alexander City Beautification Council, Alexander City Lions Club, Pop Warner, City/County Heart Fund, Tri-County Auburn Club, Little League Baseball Coach, Auburn University Legislative Committee, Sportsplex Steering Committee, Alexander City School Board President/Member for 10 years, Chamber of Commerce President/Member, local United Way Board Member, First Baptist Alexander City Sunday School teacher, multiple Central Alabama Community College committees/advisory boards, Alexander City Outlook Outstanding Leader-1989, Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year-1993, and two-term Alexander City- City Council Member/President. He was a member and Deacon at First Baptist Church Alexander City where he loved God, his church, gospel music and the friendship/fellowship with his Sunday School class.
Jim was preceded in death by his father Otto Forrest Spann, Jr., mother Sarah Louise Spann, brother John Michael Spann, father-in-law Virgil Glendon Price, mother-in-law Vera Frances Price and his maternal and paternal grandparents.
He is survived by his cherished wife and best friend of 57 years Janet Carol (Price) Spann, son Forrest Todd Spann, daughter-in-law Pipier Spann, son Brian Hamilton Spann, daughter-in-law Ronda Spann, granddaughters Sydney Spann Aultman (husband Brady), Libby Spann Simmons (husband Drew), grandsons Connor Hamilton Spann, Caleb Brice Spann, granddaughters Abbey Strickland, Hannah Holdridge, sister-in-law Ginger Spann, and many loved nieces, nephews and friends, including the remaining members of a Supper Club group spanning over 40 years.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105.
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