Zella Mardell Schubert Spiers

Zella Mardell Schubert Spiers, 82, of Bellville, Texas died peacefully on Friday morning, March 4, 2022, in the arms of her loving husband, Bobby, after several years of declining health.

She is survived by:

Her husband Bobby; five adult children: Jeff (Lynn), Jennifer (Joe), Mitch (Kerry), David (Laura), and Amanda (Beau).

Twelve grandchildren: Lydia (Casey), Kayla (John), and Bobbie Louise (Justin); Sarah (Joe), Matthew (Samantha) and Taylor; Brooke and Zac; J.D. and Allison; and Nate and Mary Lynn.

Nine great-grandchildren: Wyatt, Braden, Anabelle, Abigail, Ensley, Gage, Witten, Brewer, and Emily (plus two in the oven).

Brother, Kevin (Theo), and his family.

In addition, she will be missed by her brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and her many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins on both sides of the extended family.

She was preceded in death by her loving parents, Mardell and Herbert Schubert.

Zella and Bobby were a couple for over 67 years and married for over 63 years.  At the age of 35, with the children in school and having been uprooted from her home in Virginia and relocated to Houston, Texas, she started her delayed college education in an attempt to advance her writing abilities.  In eight years starting from ground zero, she earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in English Literature from Rice University while working part-time, raising a family of five teenagers, and running a successful marriage.  While doing her normal full load of college work, she wrote a weekly news column in the local paper about the events that sprung up from her family circus.  The “Under the Rock” bylined column was famous in the Clear Lake area of Houston.  She also wrote many award-winning pieces for her junior college, college, and Rice publications, including her doctoral thesis.  She graduated from Rice on the same stage and the same day with her oldest son.  After moving back to Virginia from Texas, she taught at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. and taught English extension courses for the Department of Defense and White House communication staff as an instructor with Park University.

Through all these life events, no person embodied the word “love” more than this woman.  She was called "Honey;" “Mom;” "Grandmom” or “Grandma ZZ;” or “friend.”  Love radiated from this woman’s face, and she never met a stranger.  She volunteered her teaching skills in maximum security prisons, on crisis hotlines, to national church leadership boards, in Sunday school classes, and to other missions during her lifetime.  She kept her home and surroundings pristine.  She was an antique freak and spent many hours looking for and acquiring antiques from Virginia to Texas and back.  She was a friend to all living animals.  She always had pets.  She loved spending time outside tending her flower gardens.

She was a peacemaker, a healer, and a giver of grace.  Her abiding faith in God and the promise of life hereafter was a source of strength.

The family would like to thank the friends of Allumine Health: Wendy, Charlie, Haley, Sharon, Aubrey, Tracy, Jeff, and Tamara, who took such loving care of our loved one during these stressful times.  They have made a difficult period so much easier with their loving care.

A memorial service was held on Wednesday, March 9th at 4:00 p.m. at Bellville United Methodist Church, Bellville, TX followed by visitation and a reception at the church.

A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, at Owen Funeral Home, 303 S. Halifax Rd, Jarratt, Virginia where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will be private at Concord United Methodist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Concord United Methodist Church c/o Alice Spiers, 25713 Courthouse Rd, Stony Creek, VA 23882.