Frances Spann

Frances (Fran) Bennett Spann, 89, died peacefully on Friday, December 18, 2009 at Assisted Living at Cross Road Retirement Community. A native of Fayetteville, NC, Mrs. Spann was born February 5, 1920 and was the daughter of the late Mittie Gertrude Graham and Knox Livingston Bennett. She was retired from the Social Security office in Asheboro, and was a member of First Baptist Church. Frances was an avid reader, and was the president of the "Round Table" Book Club at the First Baptist Church for many years. She was also a member of the Asheboro Women's Club, and a charter member of Pinewood Country Club, where she was a member of the Women's Golf Association. Her Civil Service career included government contractor secretarial duties at Pope Air Force Base, NC, Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, CO. and Fort Bragg, NC; where she was an expert typist. Her various Federal civil service positions included working at the Veterans Hospital in Salisbury, NC; and at the IRS in Greensboro, NC. In addition, she was a teacher's assistant at Rockwood Elementary School in Rockwood, TN before moving to Asheboro in 1970. Fran's interests and hobbies included flower gardening; feeding birds throughout the seasons; and making shell wreaths. She particularly enjoyed visiting her children's homes throughout various locations in the US, and traveling to numerous beaches on the East Coast. Fran was preceded in death by her husband, Michael F. Spann, to whom she was married 55 years; sister, Grace Bennett Raynor and brother, Vance Livingston Bennett both of Fayetteville. She is survived by her sons, Michael F. Spann, Jr. and his wife Sharon of Charlotte, NC; Robert B. Spann and wife, Leslie of Greensboro, NC; daughter, Michele S. Stearns of Asheboro, NC; grandchildren, Kimberly McGriff and husband, Bob of Charlotte, NC; Lyde Spann of New York, NY; Bennett Spann and his wife, Diana of Atlanta, GA; Ashley Stearns of Asheboro, NC; Frazier Spann of Greensboro, NC; Sydney Spann of Greensboro, NC; and great grandchildren, Ella Grace McGriff and Robert William McGriff, Jr., both of Charlotte, NC. Also, surviving are sister-in-law, Ethel Haywood Bennett of Fayetteville, NC and her niece Susan Bennett Kirkpatrick and husband, Ed of El Centro, CA along with great nieces Meredith and Sara. Fran is also survived by her dear "Cousin" Nell Graham Skinner Lyons and her husband, Victor, whom she held in high esteem and was her "sister soul mate" throughout her lifetime. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Pugh Funeral Home Chapel, 437 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro, NC., with Dr. John S. Rogers of First Baptist Church officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 a.m. The family of Frances Bennett Spann wishes to send special thanks to the generous and kind staff at Cross Roads Assisted Living for their warm, devoted, and professional care and friendship to her and all of her family. And, a heartfelt thank you from the family is extended to her extraordinary friends who laughed with her and comforted her into her latter days. In lieu of flowers, the family gratefully requests that memorials be made to First Baptist Church Asheboro, 133 North Church Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 or Asheboro Woman's Club, 1100 Rockridge Rd, Asheboro, NC 27205.