Ellen Elizabeth ‘Lib’ Spann Lackey

Published 12:26 pm Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Ellen Elizabeth “Lib” Spann Lackey of Farmville slipped peacefully into the arms of Jesus on June 12, 2019. She was born January 25, 1924 to the late John James and Marjo Justice Spann in western North Carolina. She was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Paul W. Lackey.

Ellen Elizabeth ‘Lib’ Spann Lackey

Lib was active in many women’s groups and churches in the Newport News and Yorktown VA, McDowell County NC and Farmville, VA areas. As a born leader she was often the president or officer of a club or church group. She led choirs, led summer VBS and taught Sunday school and participated in Missions organizations wherever she lived. She was always doing a new craft or project that was taught at the Home Demonstration Club. There was not anything that she was afraid to try. Because of her love of crafts her daughter Louisa and business partner Linda Lewis named their fabric and craft store Lib’s Place in Rice. She was proud of the store and was often there helping out or taking a class! Lib took the Arthritis Aquatics class at Longwood University where she enjoyed the fellowship of others in the class. After a bad fall in 2016, Lib became a resident at the Woodland where she continued to enjoy crafts, activities and Bingo as well as sang in a Christmas Choir. She was affectionately known as the “lady with the bow in her hair”.

Lib was a wonderful and loving mother and is survived by her four children Robert Lackey (Betsy) of Deltaville, VA; Marjo Mullins (Noah) of Farmville, VA; Louisa Lackey of Rice, VA and Frank Lackey, of Marion, NC. She has 7 grandchildren, Noah Mullins III (Lora), Ellen Butcher (Shane), Paul Mullins, Blake Lackey (Nicole), Ben Webb (Ginger), Andrea Webb and Matt Webb. She has 14 cherished great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews, a beloved special friend Michelle Sluka (Tyler) and girls, as well as many friends she loved very much. She is survived by one sister Mary Spann Beck of Hendersonville, NC. and one brother-in-law Zebulon (Buck) Lackey (Margaret) of Asheville, NC. Lib was looking forward to being in Heaven with those who have gone before her: Her husband, parents, sister Jane, brother John, other family members and countless friends.

The family would like to thank the residents and staff at the Woodland for making her last years very special.

A celebration of Lib’s life will be held at Farmville United Methodist Church on Saturday June 22, 2019 at 3:00pm. A graveside service will be at the Bethlehem Cemetery in Old Fort, NC on July 6, 2019 at 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Friends of Barnabas Foundation (Honduras Missions) at P.O. Box 4804, Midlothian, VA 23112 or Soup Kitchen at Clinchfield UMC 151 Ridge Rd, Marion, NC 28752 or a charity or church of your choice.