Alphonso Anderson Sparks

Alphonso Anderson Sparks was born on August 4, 1945, in Tyler, Texas, to Robert and Vivian Sparks. He was the youngest of six children. Alphonso accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age, and was a member of St. James Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas.

He attended Emmett Scott High School in Tyler, Texas, where he met his wife, Ruby. He graduated from high school in 1963. He then attended Prairie View A&M College, where he earned a degree in electronics. While attending college, he married Ruby.

After moving to Fort Worth, Texas, his family settled in the Highland Hills neighborhood. Alphonso became a member of East St. Paul Baptist Church when services were still being held in a house on Stafford Drive. He became a member of the Board of Trustees, and was one of the trustees who signed the note for the first church sanctuary on Oak Grove Drive. He was also one of the first deacons to be ordained at this location. Being multi-talented, he created two beautiful offering tables that were used in the sanctuary. He also served as president of the Brotherhood for several years.

After graduating from college, Alphonso and his family moved to Fort Worth, where he obtained a job at IBM (International Business Machines). He began his career at IBM repairing typewriters and later became a manager. He worked at IBM for 25 years.

Alphonso possessed strong leadership qualities and was recognized as one of the “Outstanding Young Men of America” in 1978. He served as president of a Sickle Cell Anemia organization and was able to influence IBM to donate a large sum of money to aid in the fight against the disease. He was also the first African American soccer coach at the Blue Raider Athletic Club, and his team became one of the top-winning teams.

Alphonso was highly intelligent and could repair almost anything electrical. He was also skilled at building things. His father, Robert Sparks, was a carpenter who taught Alphonso, as well as his older brothers, the trade of carpentry. His parents taught him to “always try to do your best.”

Alphonso’s spirit is now in heaven. He leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Ruby Sparks; daughter Yolanda Sparks; sons Alphonso Sparks Jr. (wife, Latifa) and Cecil Sparks (wife, Brandie); grandchild Jasmine Sparks; sister Alice Hampton; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

A visitation will be held at East St. Paul Baptist Church, located at 5300 Oak Grove Rd W, Fort Worth, TX 76134, on January 30, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The funeral service will take place at the same venue on January 31, 2026, starting at 11:00 am.

Burial will follow at Laurel Land Memorial Park, 7100 Crowley Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76134, on January 31, 2026, at 2:00 pm.