Varion Herndon Spear

Varion Herndon Spear passed away peacefully at her home in Sandy Springs, Georgia, after a morning with grandchildren and her favorite iced coffee.

Born in Kinston, North Carolina, Varion Elizabeth was the only child of Varion and John Herndon. "Varion Libby" graduated from Grainger High School, cheered for the Red Devils, attended Greensboro College, and graduated with a degree in Christian Education from Wake Forest College in 1955.

A seventh-grade decision to "go steady" with Denny Spear turned into a lifelong love story grounded in faith, family, and their individual calls to ministry. Varion's commitment to ministry came at a time when very few women responded in their own right. Together, Denny and Varion served congregations in North Carolina and Georgia while raising six children. In 1963, they moved to help start Dunwoody Baptist Church, making Atlanta their home for the rest of their lives.

As a DBC charter member for over 50 years, Varion worked with children, missions, staff, young mothers, adults learning English, refugees, and more. She was the first Director of Children's Education and later, the Director of the DBC Preschool, but closest to her heart was the Special Friends Sunday School Class for adults with disabilities which she founded and lovingly taught until her death.

Beyond the church, Varion built lasting friendships through her work at Shop-N-Chek, The Day Foundation, Developmental Disabilities Ministries of Georgia, Baptist Mobile Health Ministry, and, in later years, the community and Vespers program at Mt. Vernon Towers.

Varion had a gift for making people feel seen, valued, and loved. She believed that good AND bad times were the blessings of a full life.

Varion was ready to go anywhere, anytime. She loved peaches, babies, Kinston, lunch with friends, the beach, travel, puzzles, singing, worship, meetings, television news, and her phone. But most of all she loved her family and friends. She leaves behind many lifelong friends and a large, close-knit family whom she loved fiercely and individually, and who will forever miss Mamama's "you-who!", cinnamon toast, and drip-drop sand castles.

Varion has now joined Denny and is survived by their children Ann Spear, Amy Yearwood (David), Randy Spear (Lauri), Julie Hammond (Doug), John Spear (Wendi), Susie Purcell (Brian), 17 grandchildren and their spouses, and 21 great grandchildren, along with the families of Gram Spear, Bailey Spear, Sue Spear and cousins.

If you knew Varion, then you know of God's perfect love.

Services will be held at Mt. Vernon Towers on Saturday, April 18, at 1:00pm and at Dunwoody Baptist Church on Saturday, May 2, at 11:00am with visitation at 10:00am.

Memorial contributions may be made in Varion's name to Developmental Disabilities Ministry of GA (ddmga.org) or Dunwoody Baptist Church Missions (dbc.org).