Meredith John Spann

Meredith John Spann, of Little Rock, passed away on Friday, December 5, 2025, at Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock. She was 78.

Born February 17, 1947, in Stuttgart, Arkansas, she was the only child of Dr. Milton Carr John and Amelia “Meo” Hoffman John. Her parents focused on her education and made a conscious effort to expose her to various cultures, art, history, and music. She was well-traveled, played the piano and was classically trained as a mezzo-soprano.

Meredith attended Stuttgart High School where she played trombone in the Stuttgart Ricebird Marching Band and was a member of the Thespian Club. During her senior year in 1965, she was voted “Wittiest” and runner-up for “Friendliest” in the high school’s annual Who’s Who. The friendships she made during her childhood in Stuttgart lasted a lifetime, and she always looked forward to the Class of 1965 reunions.

After graduation, she began her undergraduate studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She transferred to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville to complete her education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Education (1970) and a Master of Science in Education (1971). She taught for one year in Texarkana before she married and started a family. Within a few years, Meredith followed a new path, navigating life’s challenges with grace, becoming a resilient single mother who instilled strength in her two daughters, Betsy and Susan. In 1978-1980, she flexed her entrepreneurial skills as co-owner of Go-Fors, Inc., an errand and delivery service. However, in 1980, she was drawn back to the classroom by the call to educate, foster creativity, develop critical thinking skills, and help students reach beyond their potential.

For over 30 years, she taught for the Little Rock School District. She was certified in Elementary Education 1-6, Reading Specialist K-12, Gifted and Talented Specialist, and ESL (English as a Second Language). She coached, moderated, and/or judged educational competitions; presented at the Arkansas Gifted and Talented Education (AGATE) conference; and served as President of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (an honorary, professional organization for women educators worldwide). During her career she won various awards, such as Little Rock School District Top Volunteer, AGATE Outstanding Teacher of the Year, and Carver Magnet Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Meredith was active in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for more than forty years and was an elder of Westover Hills Presbyterian Church. During the 1980’s, she sat on the Board of Directors for Parents Without Partners, Inc., where she met John M. Spann. They married in 1992. Together, they enjoyed discovering new recipes, attending church services and functions, going to the movies, and taking road trips until his death in 2011. 

Meredith was an exceptional home cook. From fried grits to jalapeño cornbread to smothered pork chops, she taught her daughters how to cook and the importance of a good cast iron skillet! She could cook all types of cuisine but was happiest making comfort food. Meredith could whip up a mean potato salad and a plate of perfectly seasoned deviled eggs for a summer cookout. Her family and friends often requested her chicken ’n dumplings, vegetable beef soup, and cornbread dressing. Occasionally, she would pat herself on the back for a tasty meal by saying, “I can really cook.”

She enjoyed needlepointing, jigsaw puzzles (the more pieces, the better), gardening, reading, playing Bridge, and animals. Her household was never without a cat or dog, sometimes both. She passed on her love of animals and music to her children. Meredith listened to all types of music, from classical to country. Powerful operas, soulful voices, beautifully arranged chords - all deeply moved her. She could not help but sing along at concerts and musicals.

Meredith cherished time with friends and family – no matter the activity. She enjoyed grabbing that quick bite (tamales anyone?), strolling through a crafts fair, attending an art exhibit, helping with homework, catching a movie at the theatre (buttered popcorn and Junior Mints required), being a sounding board, providing alternate routes to avoid a wreck on the interstate, giving a perm at the kitchen table, helping select new throw pillows, picking out new plants for a flower bed, or riding around to “blow the stink off” when you just needed her comforting presence. She could make things better by gently patting your back or holding your hand. She was smart, kind, generous, and benevolent.

She was known as “Mamere” to her daughters’ friends, and as “G-mere” to her grandsons, Cody and Bentley, whom she treasured. She adored playing “peek-a-boo” with them as babies to watching them learn to walk and talk. She proudly displayed their artwork on her refrigerator, and for a couple of years, she had the good fortune of seeing her grandsons every day when they attended the school where she taught.

She liked holding hands while saying Grace and having a bowl of olives on the table for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. She loved driving through the neighborhoods to look at the Christmas lights while listening to Christmas carols, singing, and laughing. She was fun and funny. She could make you believe in magic. 

Her infectious laugh, quick wit, melodic voice, and incomparable hugs will be missed by all who knew her, loved her. She is survived by her daughter Elizabeth “Betsy” L. Williams (Victor) and their children, Cody, and Bentley, all of Little Rock, Arkansas; and her daughter Susan C. Brown of Memphis, Tennessee.

Visitation will be 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Little Rock, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, Arkansas. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, December 19, 2025, at Westover Hills Presbyterian Church located at 6400 Richard B. Hardie Drive in Little Rock, Arkansas. The church will hold a reception with visitation after the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Westover Hills Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, Arkansas or to Pulaski County Humane Society, Little Rock, Arkansas.