Sara Antoinette "Toine" Spann

Sara Antoinette “Toine” Spann, 74, finished her life’s journey on July 9, 2025 at Twin Lakes Community in Burlington, NC. Her family and friends were with her, providing love, support and comfort. Toine was the daughter of Milton Graham Spann, Sr. and Sara Margaret Chalmers. She was born May 19, 1951 in Greenville, South Carolina. She is survived by her brother, Milton "Bunk “Spann, Jr. and wife Nancy of Asheville, her sister Martha Spann of Burlington, and three nephews: Graham Spann and wife Shelly of New Bern, Scott Peters and wife April of Wilmington, Trent Peters and wife Samantha of Winston-Salem, her cousin Karyn Elrod of Piedmont, SC who was like her sister, and her best friend Lisa Powers of Summerfield, NC.

When Toine was fourteen, she fell from a tree and damaged her spine and kidneys and was told she would never walk again. After many surgeries and physical therapy, she was finally able to walk with a cane, then crutches, then a walker and finally moved about in a wheelchair. She received a BA degree from Pfeiffer College (now University) where she was on the homecoming court. Subsequently she held several jobs that allowed her to be self-supporting. Her last job for eighteen years was as a communication and financial assistant for the Eden, NC Police Department where she lived and was beloved by her colleagues and numerous friends. She lived independently and had a specially equipped car which she drove for many years.

Toine volunteered for the Rockingham County Pregnancy Care Center and was honored with the establishment of the Toine Spann Tenacity Scholarship Fund which provided a special fund to encourage clients to follow her example and be tenacious about their future. And tenacious she was! She accepted her limitations with resiliency, humor, and grace.

Toine was extremely dedicated and active in the ministries of her church. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in the Draper section of Eden for 35 years until it closed and then a member of Spray United Methodist Church. During her years there, she served as the secretary of the United Methodist Women, the Sunday School, and the Eden Saturday Church School and was a member of the Audit Committee. She was also a private bookkeeper for three people, and volunteered for Meals on Wheels. She was an inspiration to many and an example of her Savior, Jesus Christ, to all who knew her.

She spent her last six years at Coble Creek Healthcare in the Twin Lakes Community where she was popular with both residents and staff. Her positive spirit encouraged others. She served as president of the resident’s council in the healthcare facility for five years where she provided leadership for the residents' care and concerns.

There will be a celebration of her life on August 2 at 2:00 in the chapel at Twin Lakes Community conducted by the Rev. Sue Anne Morris, her pastor at Spray United Methodist Church in Eden and Patrick Cardwell, Chaplain at Twin Lakes. Burial will be at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Walhalla, SC in the family plot at a later time.

The family is grateful to the residents and staff at Coble Creek Rehabilitation and Therapy Center for the love and care they gave Toine throughout her time there. They provided mental, social and physical care in ways that made her life easier.

Donations in her memory may be made to Bethel Presbyterian Church. 580 Bethel Church Rd., Walhalla, SC 29691 or to the Rockingham Pregnancy Care Center, 424 W Kings Hwy, Eden, NC 27288 or to Spray United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 690, Eden, NC 27289.