Helen Bonner Spears, 97, of the Brick Store Community, died Aug. 20 at Morgan Memorial Hospital from complications from a fall. The daughter of the late Howard Francis and Ora Upshaw Bonner, she was born in 1909 in Rutledge. She was preceded in death by three brothers, two sisters, great-granddaughter Mary Gail Summers, husband of 58 years Mr. Oscar Hermis Spears, son Mr. Oscar Howard Spears and son-in-law Moody C. Summers. Mrs. Spears was educated in the Morgan County School System and was a graduate of Bessie Tift College which is now part of Mercer University. She was a beloved teacher in the Newton County School System for many years and a much admired Sunday School teacher. Her life centered on her family, her books, her music and her faith.

Surviving are daughters Loy Summers of Covington, Shannon Helen Spears of Tappahannock, Va.; grandchildren Ivy and her husband Phillip Stone of Covington, Clay and Martha Summers of Albany, Moody and Diana Summers IV of Covington, George and Denesha Summers of Covington; great-grandchildren Loy and Frank Turner, Ida and Matt Harris, Ivy Katherine Summers, Jane Elliott Summers, Helen Summers, Susan Summers, Margaret Summers, Phillip Chamberlain and Kelly Stone, Edward Theodore Stone, Clay Chamberlain Summers, George Smith Summers Jr., Moody C. Summers V; great-grandchildren Ivy Turner, Julia Turner, Abby Stone, Payton Stone, Parks Harris; numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. today, Aug. 22, at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd with the Rev. Timothy Graham officiating. Interment will follow at Carmel Church Cemetery, Mansfield, In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 2160 Church St. SE, Covington, 30014, or the Newton County Library.