Johnna Lee McCully Spradley

A true southern beauty, Johnna Lee McCully Spradley passed away peacefully in New Orleans on August 23, 2026. Johnna led an extraordinary life and was known for her impeccable style, grateful heart, and joyful, optimistic perspective. Her journey started on June 27, 1925 as the second born to Flora Mae and Elmer Ben McCully. Johnna’s mother passed away when she was a new born; her early years were spent in Winona, Texas; along with her father, and later in Tyler, Texas. At the age of eighteen, Johnna went to work for a local insurance company and shortly thereafter, she was the runner up in the Miss Tyler beauty pageant. John C Spradley, Sr., a local oilfield contractor and client of the same insurance company noted her natural beauty and immediately arranged for an impromptu meeting between his son, John C. Jr. and Johnna. That meeting led to a sixty-three year long marriage which ended with John C. Jr’s passing in 2010.

Johnna and John C lived in Kilgore for most of their years together raising their two children, recently deceased John C Spradley, III (Chris) and Patti Spradley Jahncke (Tommy) of New Orleans. She is survived by her four grandchildren, Elizabeth Lee Jahncke Mead and husband Jason Anthony Mead, Carter Spradley Jahncke and husband William Charles Cole Claiborne, III all of New Orleans, William Parker Spradley and wife Ashley Anne O’Hearn Spradley of Worcester, Massachusetts, and Benjamin Fletcher Spradley of Houston, Texas. Johnna is survived by her five great grandchildren, Alice McCully Mead, Thomas Cutting Mead, William Cole Claiborne Perrilliat, IV, Mae Carter Perrilliat, and Elizabeth Gwendolyn Perrilliat.

In their later years, Johnna and John C moved to Lake Cherokee to enjoy their retirement years together and entertain their many friends during the Christmas holidays, their Easter egg hunts, and fourth of July celebrations. They were seen frequently at their beloved Cherokee Club and Johnna continued her membership long after John’s passing.

Throughout her life Johnna was enthusiastic about her cooking for family and friends, her many needlepoint projects, and card playing well into the evening hours. She was regarded as the ultimate hostess and always had an extra seat at her table. Johnna will be remembered for her wit, her love of family and her many friends – her life was well lived.

She was a life long member of St. Luke’s Methodist Church; she fought the good fight, finished the race, and remained faithful.

The family would like to thank the love and support of both Bridget Wallace and Lois Warren for their many years of dedication to the Spradley family.

Interment alongside her beloved John C will be private. Johnna’s friends are encouraged to join her family at a gathering at the Cherokee Club on Saturday, August 29 at 5:30 to celebrate her life.