ECHOLA | After 94 wonderful, full years of life, God in His Mercy allowed Mother to complete her earthly mission and receive her Heavenly Reward. Having been surrounded all day by her family and the soft gospel melodies that she loved so well, Mom slipped away peacefully in her sleep in the house that Dad built for her 65 years ago . . . . two days after what would have been their 72nd wedding anniversary. Her spirit has flown and we rejoice that her suffering has come to an end.
Berta Lou Lewis Springer died February 16, 2014 at her home in the Echola community. Services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at Dunns Creek Baptist Church in Echola with Rev. Don Springer and Elders Chris and Tim McCool officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Skelton Funeral Home of Reform directing. Visitation will be 6 - 8 p.m., tonight, February 18, 2014 at the funeral home. The body will lie in state one hour prior to service at the church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Breland B. Springer, her parents and her sisters, Bernice Pearson, Eunice Zeanah and Ola Driver.
Survivors include her son, Ron Springer of Northport; her daughter, Diane McCool and husband, Harold of the Zion community; her grandchildren, Chris and Sherri McCool and Tim and Tracie McCool; great-granddaughters, Meredith, Ashleigh, Madison, Abigail, Elizabeth and Lila McCool; great-grandsons, Austin, Mason and Asher McCool; numerous nieces and nephews and special caregivers, Judy Shirley, Wilda Booth, Betty O'Bryant, Leona Carroll, Jean Clark, Krystal Harbin and Bridget Bruce.
Mother was born in the Echola community on May 25, 1919 and lived her entire life there, never moving but a few miles from her birthplace. She was the youngest of four daughters born to William Walter and Maggie Brown Lewis. After losing her sisters, Mom enjoyed her role as family matriarch and her family enjoyed spending time with her and heeding her wise counsel for many years.
She was a proud descendant of the Sullivan, White, Lewis and Brown families who were among the early settlers of the West Tuscaloosa County area. She was a life long member of Dunns Creek Baptist Church and was so proud of the roles her family had played in church history. Her great-grandfather, Captain James White served as church clerk for 44 years and her grandfather, Andrew Jackson Lewis served for 16 years. Her sisters Ola and Bernice also served in the same capacity for many years. Her precious father, Will Lewis served as church song leader his entire life.
Pallbearers will be great grandsons, Austin, Mason and Asher McCool, her nephews, Frank Elmore, Dennis Springer, Lynwood Springer, Darrell Hobson and James and Tommy Zeanah and Tom Stein and Roy Mullenix.
Honorary pallbearers include friends of the Echola and Zion communities, members of Dunns Creek, Bethlehem and Zion churches, Lisa Tant, Dr. John Brandon, Dr. Warren Holley, Dr. Narayan Krishnamurthy, Dr. Richard Shamblin, Dr. and Mrs. Vernon Blackburn, Steve Berryman, General Stanley M. Stricklen (Ret.), Governor Robert Bentley, Troy and Imogene Brown and nurses and staff of Hospice of West Alabama.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Dunns Creek Baptist Church Cemetery and Maintenance Fund, c/o Dorothy Sullivan, 15924 Boyd Road, Elrod, AL 35458.