James Daniel Spears, Sr.

Funeral services for Deacon James Daniel Spears, Sr., 81, of Angleton, TX, will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Angleton, TX, with Bishop A.D. Simon officiating and Pastor Michael Mack eulogizing. Interment will be at the VA Cemetery in Rayville, LA

DEACON JAMES DANIEL SPEARS, SR, Th.D., was born on the Fourth of July in 1944 to Roosevelt Spears, Sr., and Ophelia Webb Spears in Winnsboro, Louisiana.  The youngest of 15 children, James Daniel was given his Biblical name by his eldest brother Steve, who sent his mother the name from overseas while enlisted in the military during World War II.

Deacon Spears attended and graduated from Franklin Parish Training School, and attended Grambling State University until he enlisted in the United States Army.  He returned to school many years later and received his Doctorate in Theology from the Lord’s Outreach School of Theology in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Daniel was reared in Augusta Missionary Baptist Church, where he accepted Christ as his personal Savior. He later joined Hall Chapel Baptist Church in Brazoria, TX, where he served for over thirty years and was ordained a deacon.  He was a charter member of New Revelation Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastors Abe and Thelma Mack. Rev. Michael Mack succeeded his parents, and Deacon Spears remained a faithful member of New Revelation until his transition.

James was a serial entrepreneur. He opened his first business, S&S Drive Inn Grocery, in beautiful downtown Bailey’s Prairie, with his former wife, Elise Spears (deceased), in 1985.  He later established Dudereaux Construction and began installing septic systems.  To this business, he added two dump trucks and began hauling dirt and materials for road and pipeline construction sites.  James also raised and sold beef cattle.

Daniel’s favorite pastime was work.  He worked for Dow Chemical in Freeport and later Phillips Petroleum in Sweeny while simultaneously operating his businesses.  He retired from Phillips and transferred to Chevron Phillips the same day.  He worked several more years at the same site and ultimately retired again after fifty years as a Chemical Operator.

Retirement activities included gardening, raising laying hens, hand-digging wells, working cattle, and “collecting” random metal objects he picked up from anywhere.  Daniel was very active until his health failed him in November of 2025.  He fought valiantly for five months through several health challenges and setbacks. On April 25, 2026, at 1:25 pm, the house that James Daniel Spears, Sr. lived in became unsuitable for him to live in and he received his complete healing.

Deacon James Daniel Spears was preceded in death by his parents, Roosevelt and Ophelia Spears, ten of his fourteen siblings, and his son, Dewayne Alexander Grant.  He is survived by his wife of sixteen years, Mrs. Evelyn K. Spears, his children: Janine Ratliff, Phyllis D. LaDay, James Jr. (LaTina), Natalie A. Spears (Julius Moore), Noel Matthew Spears, and Chassidy Lewis (Jason), four sisters:  Lorine Robinson (Mack), Mary Breedlove, Mary Jean Jones (Willie P.) and Pearl Spears, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, bonus daughters:  Andrea L. Dean, Sharon D. Jones, and Rev. Joyce N. Harrington,   best friend Harvey D. Washington, and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and coworkers.  He leaves a legacy of hard work, laughter and love of family that will last for generations.

Active pallbearers will be Marvin Hall, Nat Hardin, Phillip LaDay, Gary Silguerro, Sr., Anthony Smith and Christian Spears.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.at Dixon Funeral Home in Angleton, TX.

Visitation will also be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Angleton, TX.

Please visit our website to leave online condolences, light a candle, and send floral arrangements or gifts to the family at www.dixonfuneralhome.com.

Final arrangement entrusted to Dixon Funeral Home of Angleton at (979)849-8800.        

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