Roy Everett Spears

Roy E. "Res" Spears III, 61, of Carrollton, Virginia passed away in the evening hours of Wednesday, March 25th, 2026. Res was Pastor at Liberty Spring Christian Church. He had a passion for researching and using Scripture to teach people not only to know the message of the Gospel, but to live it.

Born October 16, 1964, a longtime resident of Suffolk, Virginia, he was the son of Merilynn C. Spears and the late Roy E. Spears, Jr.

Res attended Nansemond-Suffolk Academy and then Virginia Tech majoring in English. After college he began his career as a cub reporter and photographer covering a county beat at The Tidewater News in Franklin. He rose quickly through the ranks becoming Regional Vice President at Atlantic Publications, responsible for all aspects of publication for six community weekly newspapers, then Regional General Manager at Chesapeake Publishing, and followed as Editor and General Manager at South Hill Enterprise. In 1997 Res pivoted his career to join his father and then mother at Shirley Construction Corp as their Director of Business Development and Technology. He returned to journalism once more in 2006 to the Tidewater News and then Editor for nine years at the Suffolk News-Herald.

During his time at Shirley and his tenures as an editor he was saved and heard his call to the ministry. Despite not having completed a bachelor's degree, he was accepted to the Dallas Theological Seminary, and in three years received his Master of Arts in Christian Leadership. During those years Res began as part-time Pastor at Liberty Spring Christian Church and was soon after chosen full-time Pastor where he served until his passing.

Professionally, Res was a writer, a story-teller, a manager, a mentor. To his family he was a cherished son, a loving husband, a devoted stepfather and grandfather. To his friends he was steadfast in his loyalty, generosity, and selflessness. As he came to serve Christ, he grew into a beloved and integral member not only of his local community but also to a broader community as a missionary for Supply and Multiply in Montrouis, Haiti.

In all his walks he maintained a hearty laugh and a playful, clever, and mischievous sense of humor. That sense of humor permeated through not just his gregarious personality, but also through his actions. As the avid owner of many convertibles throughout his life, he declared that if it was over 50 degrees out, the top had to be down. That explains his late winter look of wind-burned cheeks and sun-burned head. He found joy in live music, traveling with friends to attend concerts up and down the East Coast, each song touching a heart string, each trip building a stronger friendship.

Res lived his life with an open heart, embracing arms, a helpful hand, and despite his at-times gruff exterior, an unlimited generosity of love and patience.

He is survived by his wife, Annette Spears, mother Merilynn Spears, two step-daughters, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Roy E. Spears, Jr.

Services will be held at 11am, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at Liberty Spring Christian Church, 4213 Whaleyville Blvd., Suffolk, Va 23434 followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Liberty Spring Christian Church in loving memory of Pastor Res Spears.