William Lebron Sparks
William Lebron Sparks was born on Dec. 2, 1953 at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee to William Sparks, Sr. and Jeanette Sparks.
William was raised up in the College Hill Courts apartments on the west side of town. He attended 2nd Baptist Church. He also attended James A. Henry elementary school, and then Howard High School, where he graduated from in 1972.
He worked for American Lava Corporation 3M for six years. He also worked for Wheland Foundry for over 15 years before he became disabled after a car wreck. While still living on the west side of town, he would watch a neighbor (Joe Green) work on cars; it became something he loved doing. He was the best and least expensive mechanic in town. On Feb. 14, 1992 he married Carolyn Ann Holland. They were married for 33 years.
William was preceded in death by his father, William Sparks, Sr.; maternal grandmother, Jesse Buford; mother-in-law, Nell Holland Dillard; aunt, Mary Alice Crayton; uncle, Gerald Buford; brother, Bruce Strickland; nephew, Zyon “Fat Daddy,” all of Chattanooga; paternal grandmother, Maggie Sparks; paternal grandfather, Jody Sparks; uncle, Harold Sparks; aunt, Betty Jean Moore; uncle, Melvin Sparks; brother, Darrell Sparks; cousin, Shelly Moore, all of Cincinnati, Ohio.
William fell asleep in death at his residence on Monday, June 3, 2024, peacefully in his bed, with his wife by his side.
Those left to cherish his precious memories include his wife, Carolyn Ann Sparks; daughters, Sparkle Sparks, Renika Sparks, LaShannon (Markus) McConnell, and Shywone Sparks, all of Chattanooga; sons, Don “Poony” Holland, Fred Holland, William “Brony” Sparks, and Markee Sparks, all of Chattanooga; 15 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; mother, Jeanette Sparks, of Chattanooga; stepmother, Bernice Sparks, of Cincinnati; brothers, Andre Sparks, of Chattanooga, and Rodney (Vicky) Sparks, of Cincinnati; sisters, Sharon Strickland, of Chattanooga, Ethelrine (Rodney) Matthews, Madleon Thomas, and Marian (Moses) Cauley, all of Cincinnati; aunts, Dean Ansley and Willie Joyce Church, both of Chattanooga; a host of nieces; nephews; cousins; other relatives and friends.
Ecclesiastes 7:1 says, “A good name or reputation is better than good oil.” To his family, he was “Lebron.” To his friends, he was “Sparks.” To his grandchildren, he was “Pawpaw.” To his wife, he was “Honey.” To all, he will
truly be missed.
William will lie-in-state on Saturday, June 15 at 10 a.m. at Taylor Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. in the chapel, with Brother Lebron Flanagan as eulogist.