John Spearman Obituary

John Spearman, Jr. GOURDIN, SC - John Edward Spearman, Jr., Colonel, United States Army (Retired), took his last breath in his home of Gourdin, South Carolina, on June 17, 2025, after an extended illness. Services will be held Saturday, June 21, at the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church in Kingstree. Visitation begins at 1 PM to 2 PM with service to follow at 2:30 PM. A man of Honor, Colonel Spearman was a man who loved his God, loved his family, and served his Nation and his community. The oldest son of seven siblings was born on the 28th of January 1951 in Philadelphia, PA to parents, John and Dolores Spearman, setting high standards for all to follow. Eventually moving to Kingstree, South Carolina, then Summerville, South Carolina, to graduate from Summerville High School in 1969. He then accepted the full ROTC scholarship to The Citadel, graduating in 1973. He was commissioned as a Regular Army 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry. His distinguished career spanned more than a quarter century in both Active Army and Army Reserve. His awards included the Army Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4th award), Ranger Tab and Expert Infantry Badge. He concluded service to The Nation as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Reserve Affairs for 3rd United States Army in 1999. With retirement, he was appointed commander of the American Legion post 8 in Kingstree, SC, where his command would span more than 20 years of additional service. He had a second, equally distinguished career as a farmer of crops and timber on Deer Hill in Gourdin, SC. He proudly earned titles of South Carolina Tree Farmer of the Year for 1999 and Tree Farm of the Year and the entire Southern Region in 2004. He was asked to serve on the National Tree Farm Committee as well as the American Forest Foundations National Woodland Operating Committee and made several effective trips back to Washington, DC to advocate for sustainable forestry, wildland firefighters, and conservation initiatives within The Farm Bill. He loved travel, fly fishing and golf. He was a scholar of history and political science. He lived as a forceful Colonel and also a quiet mentor as a patient listener, doting husband/father/grandfather, and teacher. He was loved and respected by all. He was predeceased by both of his parents, and his wife, Mary Rebecca Ligon Spearman, and his two youngest brothers, Thomas Franklin "Tommy" Spearman and Anthony Christopher "Tony" Spearman. He is survived by his wife, May (Faulk) Spearman and his beloved children, Edward Vaughan Spearman (Kelly), Caroline Ligon Ferguson (Joseph), Nicolas John (Carrie), Dave Whitaker, April Elizabeth Whitaker and precious grandchildren, Meadow Aster Spearman, Phoebe Blythe Pellum, Esme Claire Pellum, Charlotte Evangeline Pellum, Ligon Hope Ferguson, and Julia Louise Ferguson. He also leaves behind his three younger brothers, Robert "Bobby" (Barb) Spearman of Edisto, Dr. James "Jimmy" (Emily) Spearman of Edisto, and Dr. William "Billy" (Starr) Spearman of Beaufort, and sister, Dr. Maridee Spearman (Bill McLaws) of Hendersonville, NC, and many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. The family request that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to either SC Forestry Association, Trout Unlimited, or Quail Forever. Online condolences may be sent to the family on the obituary page of our web site, www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com.