Obituary

Rita Mae Spears Breland

May 30, 1947 - June 18, 2025

Rita Mae Spears Breland, age 78 and a lifelong resident of the Thomas Community, passed away Wednesday June 18, 2025 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Rita was a huge part of many children’s lives in the community and beyond. She operated a daycare out of her home for over 30 years and was known as Maw Maw Rita to many, many young people. She was a longtime active member of Thomas First Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school, vacation bible school each summer and sang in the church choir. Rita was a loving person who made everyone feel welcome when they came to her home. She loved nothing more than spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and as many other family and friends as she could surround herself with. Her favorite expression was “the more, the merrier” and she meant that with all her heart.

Survived by: Husband of 60 years: Louis C. Breland; 3 Daughters and a Son in law: LaSonia and David Whitehead, Veronica Ashburn, Wendy Crowe; Special “Adopted” Son and Daughter in law: Robbie and Debbie Michel; Grandchildren and Spouses: Heather, Samantha, Ashelie and Madeline, Matthew, Rachel and Garrett, Leslie and Grant, Amber and Michael, Mallory and Dakota, Leah and Ross, Emily and Casey, Haley, Natalie and Jared, Kristen and Tyler; Great-grandchildren: Amelia, Rory, Noble, Briley, Madelyn, Dean, Mason, Paisleigh, Levi. Zaythyn, Stella, Law-Allen, Tre’, Evelyn, Wyatt, Eli, Lucas, Amelia Kate, Lani, Luca, Eleanor, Dax, Josie Mae, GiAnna, Liam, Shyanne; Sisters in law and Brothers in law: Billie Sue Spears, Vivian Jenkins, Earnest Breland, Valerie and Victor Merritt; Also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, many friends and a host of special kids she helped raise in her daycare.

She was preceded in death by an infant son Sedgie Louis Breland, parents Leslie “Buss” Spears and Frances Creel Spears, father in law and mother in law Johnnie Breland and Verlie Mae Crain Breland, brothers and sisters in law Willie Jay Spears, Landers, Sr. and Bobby Spears, Richard and Nell Spears, Leslie and Cindy Spears, Willard Loyd Spears, Mary Lou “Coot” Bufkin, Johnnie Lou Breland Thomas, HV “Sonny” Jenkins, sons in law Jimmy Ashburn, Sr., David Troy Crowe, niece Donna Sue Spears Adams, nephews Eric Breland, Jerome Breland, Danny Spears

Visitation will be at Crain Funeral Home Saturday June 21st from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm and after 10:00 am on Sunday. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel at 2:00 pm Sunday with Rev. Tom Descant and Rev. Harold Gaddy officiating. Burial will follow in the Crain’s Creek Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Randy Spears, Quinton Spears, Garrett Brooks, Dakota Hensley, Michael Waldrop, Matthew Dillon

Honorary Pallbearers: Landers Spears, Jr., Ritchie Spears, Garland Spears, Brady Sones, Grant Heller and her great-grandsons