B. A. Spell

Reverend Bervick Atward Spell, age 92, born January 7, 1930. He married his childhood sweetheart, Dorothy Elizabeth Brown, June 22, 1947.

Reverend Spell founded and faithfully pastored Life Tabernacle Church from 1959-2009. He founded Robert Livingston Academy in 1968. He was co-founder of Apostolic Ministers Fellowship in 1968. He served several terms as General Chairman, and Foreign Missions Director. In 1960, Reverend Spell opened his first Christian bookstore. He went on to operate 9 stores in the Greater Baton Rouge area. In 1975, he was elected the first president of the Merchants Association. He received a Doctorate of Divinity, a Doctorate of Philosophy, and a Doctorate of Theology. In 2017, he authored his own biography “Spellbound”.

Reverend Spell is survived by his brother, James Andrew Spell, his sister, Mary Lemieux, 4 sons, Malcolm Ray Spell, spouse Rosie Spell, Timothy Charles Spell, spouse Jeannie Spell, Stephen Louis Spell, James Anthony Spell, and spouse Bethany Spell. 2 daughters, Belinda Faye Spell, and Deborah Lynn Garret, spouse Dr. Gary W. Garrett. Adopted daughter, Minister Jo Ann Johnson. Eighteen grandchildren, thirty-one great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by Dorothy Elizabeth Brown Spell, his wife of 70 years, his parents, Tony and Floy Pedigo Spell, sibling, Ollie Rae Spell, son, Johnny Mitchell Spell, and grandsons, James Matthew Spell, and Timothy Charles Spell II.

Visiting hours will be at Life Tabernacle Church, 9323 Hooper Road, on February 24th from 4-7pm. Funeral services begin at 7pm, with Pastor Tony Spell officiating. Prayer and dismissal will be at Life Tabernacle Church on February 25th at 10am, and burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery.

Pallbearers, Alex Gatlin, Tyler Spell, Dallas Blackburn, Dee Murray, Judah Spell, and Nathan Conrad. Honorary pallbearers, Andre Blackburn, Johnny Spell, Noah Spell, Steve Spell II, Darren Spell, Ben Spell, J. Spell, Doug Farber, and charter member of Life Tabernacle Church, and friend, Janice Wildman.

The family of Reverend B.A. Spell wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Herschel Dean, Pinnacle Health, and his faithful caregiver, Linda Fortune. In lieu of flowers, LTCBR.com bus ministry.

He loved to travel with his wife, Dorothy, he loved his family, and Church family dearly. Only eternity will tell the millions of souls he reached, but we do know one thing for sure, he’s leaving a legacy that will outlive the test of time. His love for God, people, and his family were unmatched, and there will never be another B.A. Spell.