June 2, 1934 – March 16, 2023

Frank Leon Sprayberry was born in Trion, Georgia to Lois and Elmer Sprayberry. He was raised in Trion on a small farm, and briefly in Brunswick, Georgia, when his parents worked building ships during WWII. He worked at a local store as a “soda jerk” in high school, and was proud to be the first in his family to graduate from high school. 

Seeking to go out and explore the world from a young age, Frank joined the Army in the mid 50’s, during the Korean War. He served in post World War II Germany as a Military Police officer. He spoke often of his post at a former castle which the U.S. was using as a headquarters in Hamburg. From there, he and his fellow MP’s would travel throughout Europe when they had leave. He loved experiencing new music & food, but especially meeting new people as he travelled, and with his warm personality, often was invited to stay with people he met in Belgium, France, and Switzerland.

After he finished his stint in the Army, he continued his quest for education, graduating from Jacksonville State University in Alabama with a B.A. in Economics and a Minor in French. He was the first in his family to graduate from university. He wanted to continue his education and travel, studying French at the Sorbonne in Paris for a year. He became an Episcopalian while studying in Paris, and attended the American Cathedral.

When he returned to the U.S. he was hired by Trans World Airlines as a reservation agent, working in New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles for several  years each. He loved all these cities, and spoke of working in the modern Eero Saarinen TWA terminal at JFK when it first opened. He was later thrilled to find out his first workplace reopened as a fine hotel in 2018. In San Francisco, he lived through the exciting and vibrant times from 1966-68, beginning to be aware of and involved in civil rights.  He loved San Francisco so much, it later turned out to be his last travelling adventure in 2018 when he used his TWA pass to fly down and visit friends from decades before. When he was in Los Angeles, he took his niece, Pam, and his mother Disneyland, and enjoyed driving to the desert or up the coast whenever he had time off.

Frank moved to St. Louis and became a Reservations Manager for TWA and after many years, retired in 1997. He and his colleagues became as close as a family and often got together outside of work. One of his best friends from TWA was Ann Mayberry, and she asked him to be godfather to her son John. Though Frank had no children of his own, John was like his son–he brought him to church weekly, took him many places, and made sure he had opportunities Frank had missed at that age. For many years he made sure to attend TWA reunions in Arizona and gatherings in St. Louis.

Frank was a member of St. John’s Church for ten years, then joined Christ Church Cathedral in 1982. He was extremely active in the Episcopal church, both locally and nationally, for nearly 50 years, which included being elected as an alternate delegate to the General Convention in 1982. As he remembered in a 2012 interview, “I went to New Orleans for that. Bishop Tutu spoke at that convention. So did George H. W. Bush, who was Vice President at the time.” One of Frank’s most treasured photos was of himself and Bishop Tutu years later at Christ Church Cathedral, where he preached twice.

The first Pride walk in St. Louis was called “The Walk for Charity” and Frank was one of the planners for that historic march. He had joined both Integrity and the Magnolia Committee which met at his house next to St. John’s in 1979-80. He also got several Episcopal priests involved, including Missouri Bishop William Jones.   The committee  planned the April 1980 march, and as Frank remembered in a 2012 interview: “Well, [the Walk for Charity] turned out to be one of the greatest things that ever happened in the City of St. Louis. … I remember going down Lindell Boulevard and as you get going up to crossing Skinker, going up the hill, like, to the University, looking back and seeing nothing but a sea of people behind you, coming up and there were already people there. It was awesome. It was just awesome.”

Frank’s ‘third act’ was his calling to be a chaplain at Brooking Park Assisted Living, as well as a eucharistic minister to shut-ins for Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis. He was an enthusiastic member of the Cathedral for over 40 years. He loved the music, prayers, and sermons. He enjoyed Sunday brunches after church, and his favorite was biscuits and gravy with black coffee at Chris’ Pancakes. Nearly every Sunday after brunch, he’d spend a couple hours taking communion to fellow parishioners. He attended every Evensong, pancake supper, fish fry, Black History potluck, Easter Brunch, New Years Eve dinner, and summer float trip–often with his best friend, the late Norma Lemmon, and his godson as John grew up.

When Frank’s mother, Lois, needed some help, he sold his house in St. Louis and moved back to his hometown to live with her and his beloved dogs, Duchess, Bogey, and Bacall. He enjoyed raising guineas on the land and attended the local Episcopal church. When his mom passed, he returned to St. Louis, but didn’t stop helping care for others into his 80’s, as he had cared for his beloved mother. He took his last trip to New York City in 2017 because he heard his young friend, Anneliese Dace, was going to sing at Carnegie Hall, and exclaimed, “We have to go see her!” He exulted in the delicious foods, Central Park, Guggenheim Museum, and Carnegie Hall. Frank so loved a good time! What a life of adventure, love, and joy! As St. Matthew wrote: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Memorial Service & Interment will be on June 2, 2023 at 2:00 at Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis.