Paula Rae Spells

We celebrate the home going of Paula Rae Spells. She entered this world on October 19th 1939 in the Bronx New York. She was raised with her sister Josette. There she met the man she would marry until his passing on March 13th 2018. After being a military wife and raising 4 children, while relocating both overseas and various states in America, sometimes raising the children alone while Henry was overseas serving his country, Henry and Paula retired from military service in 1975 to Crowley, Texas. They found a church home for their family at First Baptist Church of Crowley, Texas. Having been a church pianist for many years prior, she began to play for the late services on Sundays. After a new larger sanctuary was built, she then learned to play the organ and did so as the church organist until her health prevented her from doing what she loved.

Always an active church member, she and six other ladies formed a singing group called Jubilant Song that would perform at various places and functions spreading the word of God through their musical gifts. Paula also in later years became an active member of VFW Post #6872 where she served as the Ladies Auxiliary secretary, a position which made her proud to be involved in that capacity with her husband as post chaplain. She enjoyed the many friendships that were formed at both First Baptist Church and the local VFW Post both of Crowley. She remained active at the post until her health made this difficult. She maintained these lifelong friendships through the death of her husband until her own passing after fighting a two-year battle with cancer. Let us celebrate and remember the life of Paula Rae Spells as God called her home from service on June 20th 2026 at the age of 86.

She is preceded in death by her daughter LeRae Mwakutuya and her husband Henry Spells. She is survived by her sister Josette Simpson, her remaining children Derek Spells, Tracy Spells, Jonathan Spells, surrogate daughter Alex Perez, her grandchildren Ashleigh McKellum, Kennedy Hutto, Henry J Spells and Sawyer Spells.

Grand Prairie Funeral Home will direct her services on July 7th 2026 to be held at First Baptist Church of Crowley, Texas. The internment will be at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.

The wake will be at 10 am

The service will be at 11 am

The Funeral procession will begin at 12:45 pm to arrive by 1:45 pm

The Graveside service will be at 2 pm