Edwin Russell Spann, 1928-2000Edwin Russell Spann of one of the royal families of Methodism served the Methodist Church for 20 years in both Texas and Virginia. Born in Dallas, Texas, on December 17, 1928, he was the only child of Dr. J. Richard Spann who served many years as the head of the Board of Ministry of the Methodist Church. His mother was Julia Mouzon Spann, daughter of Bishop Mouzon who presided over the Virginia Conference 1931-36. In September 1951, Ed married a childhood schoolmate, Barbara Towner, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Walter Towner. Dr. Towner was for many years the head of the Board of Education of the Methodist Church and was later a professor at Scarritt College in Nashville, Tennessee. Both Ed and Barbara received masters degrees from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Ed earned a Bachelor of Divinity and Barbara an M.A. in religious education. In 1951, Ed was received as a probationary member of the South West Texas Conference and in 1953 as ordained elder in full connection. While a graduate student working on his doctorate in American church history at Duke Divinity School, he was also chaplain to the Methodist students of Duke University 1953-56. In 1956, he was appointed pastor of Lytle Methodist Church in Texas; 1957, St. Mark, Corpus Christi; 1959, St. Mark, Victoria; 1963, Pharr, Texas. In 1966, he transferred to the Virginia Conference serving as associate pastor at St. Paul’s in Woodbridge; 1968, Washington Farm Church; in 1972 he retired under the "20 year rule." Ed was a very committed and articulate preacher of the Christian gospel, holding strong social justice views. He was a prophet in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets like Amos. In the Civil Rights struggle he was one of the leaders working for justice and was very active in advocating better working conditions for the migrant farm laborers in Texas and the South. After his retirement from the church, he worked for over 25 years in the Office of Comprehensive Planning in Fairfax County, Virginia. On March 14, he died at The Hermitage at Cedarfield, Richmond, Va., his retirement residence for the past three years. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and three children: David, Glenn, and Sarah Spann Saunders. For almost 50 years, Ed Spann was my true and faithful friend! — Max W. Wicker |