Gennie Vinson Sparks

Gennie Vinson Sparks, 89, went to be with the Lord on Friday, January 18, 2013 at her home. She was the widow of James Walter Sparks. Mrs. Sparks was born in Greenville County to the late George Washington Vinson, Sr., and Essie Bryant Vinson on November 1, 1923. She was reared most of her life by her father and step-mother the late Lula Mae Smith Clark Vinson. Mrs. Sparks was a homemaker and member of Lighthouse Baptist Church. She will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Donnie Ann Sparks; her brother and sisters, Floyd F. Vinson, Linnie V. Horne, and Leroy Vinson; and step-sisters, Mary Lee Bennett and Frances Porterfield. Surviving Mrs. Sparks is her daughter, Elaine Todd (Don); son, Gerald Sparks (Teresa); six grandchildren, Diane Cobb (John), Sherrie Booth (T.J.), Sheila Pressley (Troy), Walter Todd (Denise), Laura Boone (Tony) and Kaylyn Brown (Cody); seven great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Zack Pressley, Dylan and Jeb Booth, Evan Cobb, Dakota Todd and Myles Boone; four brothers, James N. (Pete) Vinson, George Vinson, Jim Vinson and Larry Clark; two sisters, Ruby McNeill and Irene Fowler; a special care giver, her niece, Patsy Vinson and a host of extended family and friends. The family will receive friends from 2:00PM to 3:00PM on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 3:30PM on Sunday, January 20, 2013 in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. James Long officiating. Burial will follow in the Warrenton Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The family is at the home on the Old Calhoun Falls Rd. Memorial contributions, in memory of Mrs. Sparks, may be sent to the Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com HARRIS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES is assisting the Sparks family.