JAMES BENJAMIN SPEARS

James Benjamin Spears, 81, of Panama City, died Friday, February 2, 2007 in a local hospital. He was born September 13, 1925 in Hartford, Alabama. He was retired civil service, having worked in Mobile, Alabama and Tyndall AFB for 35 years. He had been a resident of Panama City since 1966 moving here from Mobile. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lynn Haven, was a volunteer for the Northwest Florida Baptist Association Disaster Relief team, and was a former Board member for the Panama City Rescue Mission. He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace Bradley Spears, daughter, Georgia Annette Rich and a granddaughter, Tabitha Renee McCroan. He is survived by a daughter, Martha Sue Spears of Panama City; son, James Wesley Spears and wife, Joanne of Jasper, FL; 5 grandchildren, Alvin McCroan Jr. and wife, Natalia; Rhonda Lynn Young and husband, Robby; Tara Lynn Jablonski and husband, Justin; Amber Grace Kline; Paul Travis Ferguson; 4 great grandchildren, Austin Michael Garrett; Kristopher Dalton Jones; Nickalos Blake Young; Jacob Ferris McCroan; 6 sisters, Ruby Collins; Dessie Mae Woodham; Annabelle Ward and husband, Rex; Martha Ann Meadows; Sarah Curren and husband, Phil; Mary Forehand and husband, Edward; brother, Calvin Spears and wife, Jeannie; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the First Baptist Church of Lynn Haven with Rev. Tom Daniel and Rev. Jeff Carney officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. Monday. Those desiring may make a contribution to the Panama City Rescue Mission in memory of James Spears.

Wilson Funeral Home