Virginia Lee "Ginny"Ayers Spann, OHS 1959

(b  May 9, 1941 - d Nov 12, 2020)

          Ginny entered into the Kingdom of Heaven on November 12, 2020, and appreciatively passed through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Although she is absent from the body, she is now face-to-face with her Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).  She is now in a place of, “…no more sorrow…no more tears, no more pain, the old things have passed away” (Revelations 21:4).

          There to welcome her were her daughters, Tiffany Leigh Spann and Marissa Dawn Spann Porcheddu; her parents, Thomas Allen Ayers and Beatrice Seabolt Ayers Folmar; her brothers, Charles Ray Ayers and William Ayers; maternal grandparents, Charles David Seabolt, Sr. & Alice Green Seabolt; and paternal grandparents, William Benton Ayers & Dessie Bell Byrom Ayers.

          One of her greatest joys in her life were her daughters, Marissa Dawn Spann Porcheddu and Shannon Brooke Spann Walker and her son-in-law William Lee “Billy” Walker.  The absolute love of her life and stars in her crown were her grandchildren who all affectionately called her “Mimi,” Brooke Elyce Christensen Jacobs, Colton Chase Walker, Remington Lee Walker and Bella Dawn Mason, all of Katy, Texas.

          Ginny was born on May 9, 1941 at Baker Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina. She grew up and was educated in Odessa (OHS'59), Ector County, Texas. Being a true Southern lady, it was always important to her to extend help when possible. She volunteered many hours at M.D. Anderson Hospital for the Children’s Art Project. She participated in the Heart to Heart Program for the ladies of her church. She was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi International Sorority, a member of Rainbow Girls and a longtime member of Kingsland Baptist Church. She was also a longtime supporter of the mental health community and long standing member of National Association of Mental Health – West Houston.  Additionally, she loved to read, play bridge and she was an avid researcher of her family genealogy and was proud of her Manx/Irish Heritage and loved to travel. Ginny had great loyalty to her friends, family, state and country.

          Ginny had a career of 45 years in the energy industry beginning in the mid 1960’s with Warren Petroleum Company, then a subsidiary of Gulf Oil Company in Midland, Texas.  After moving to Houston in 1974, she retired from The Louisiana Land and Exploration Company in 1989; but continued to work in her chosen field of oil & gas by working for the Coastal Corporation until their merger with El Paso Corporation in 2001. Although she once again retired, she continued to contract for El Paso for many years.

          A Celebration of Life service will be held 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at the Schmidt Funeral Home Grand Parkway Chapel, in Katy, with Rev. Todd Pendergrass officiating.

          In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to the American Lung Association, 2550 North Loop West, Suite 265, Houston, Texas 77062, www.lung.org in memory of her daughter, Tiffany Leigh Spann, or to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Greater Houston, 9401 Southwest Freeway, Suite 1234, Houston, Texas 77074, www.namigreaterhouston.org.

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