Katharyn Sparkman

Katharyn Cason Sparkman, deaconess at Bethel AME Church, 93, went home to be with the Lord, on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, after a recent illness.Katharyn Sparkman was born Sept. 13, 1919. She was the last born of seven sisters. She graduated from Howard High School and was a proud member of the class of 1938. She worked as a medicine aide at the Hamilton County Nursing Home, a nursing assistant at Memorial Hospital for a short time and domestic manager in several local family homes throughout the years.She was lifelong member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. As a deaconess at Bethel she served on the Usher Board and the Stewardess Board and held numerous offices. She worked diligently on fund-raisers and did whatever she felt the Lord called on her to do for her church.She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Neal Sparkman Sr.; her son, Clarence Neal Sparkman Jr.; her parents, Jenny Cason and Jeremiah Cason; her sisters, Annie Mae Branson, Carrie Phinazee, Melissa Baker, Cornelia Cason, Cora Hood and Margaret Cason; her niece, Nancy B. Harris; her sister-in-law, Clorena Sparkman.Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Leroy Gaunt; her grandson, Sidney C. Blaylock Jr.; her nephews, Dr. Nathaniel Branson, Rev. Fred Harris, William "Easy" Phinazee, Ret. Staff Sgt. Charles (Frances) Branson, Walter Phinazee, Roland (Bettye) Harris, John R. Montgomery; her nieces, Rev. Dr. Shelia Harris, Rev. Sylvia Harris, Anita Williams and Joann Edwards.The family would like to thank the director of nursing and the staff of Unit 600 and Health Information at Health Center at Standifer Place for their tender care, the staff of the Chattanooga Public Library for their kindness during a difficult time, and our Bethel AME family for their prayers, cards, and acts of comfort for their beloved member.Funeral services will be held at noon on Thursday, Jan. 24, at Bethel AME, 2000 Walker Ave., Chattanooga, with the Rev. A.J. Holman and other ministers officiating.Interment at Chattanooga National Cemetery will follow.The body will lie in state after noon today and the family will receive friends from 78 p.m. at John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., 622-9995.