Obituary – Kathryn Clements “Kat” Spragins

Published 9:03 am Thursday, May 30, 2019

Kathryn Clements “Kat” Spragins, 74, died Friday, May 24, 2019, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi in Oxford. A memorial service and life celebration for Kathryn will be planned for a future time.

Kat was born September 22, 1944, in Greenville to Thomas Gibson and Helen Brown Clements. She graduated from Greenville High School in 1962. She then attended the Mississippi University for Women where she graduated with a B.S. Degree in Mathematics in 1966.

Kat returned to Greenville and made her home there, having two daughters, Martha Waite and Ellis. She would later move to Oxford in 1983 where she studied and earned her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Mississippi. Over the years, she taught at Greenville High School and Solomon Junior High School in Greenville, South Panola High School in Batesville, and Northwest Community College. In her spare time, she tutored students in Greenville and Oxford in mathematics.

Kat’s Oxford home was always an open, lively social hub for friends and family, artists, musicians, Delta visitors or refugees, any stray that may wander into her yard or pull a chair up to her table. She was colorful and salty, and had a keen, Delta sense of humor with a hearty laugh to punctuate a thousand stories, and a comforting ear and sage words for those in need.

Kat loved her family and made magical fairies come alive in her yard for her beloved grandchildren! She experienced heart issues later in life and became the recipient of a donor heart, though it never diminished her spirit and the love she shared.

She was predeceased by her parents and her siblings, brother Tommy Clements,and sister Patsy Bolton. She is survived by her daughter Martha Waite Spragins of Colorado Springs, Colorado; daughter Ellis Spragins Wong (Galen) and grandchildren Bailey Grace and Everett Allen, all of Melbourne, Florida; dear friend and sister-in-law Vicky Grassi Clements and her son, Justin Clements (Julie); niece Stefanie Bolton (Juan) of Atlanta, Georgia; sister-in-law Martha Johnston of Jackson, Mississippi, and Martha’s daughters Searcy Veal Kay of Moss Point, Mississippi, and Martha-Brooks Byrnes Miller of Jackson; and sister-in-law Suzie Cranston (Phil), and Suzie’s daughter Suzanne Lambert (Andy) of Jackson and son Rep Cranston (Shelly) of Jackson. Kat was additionally preceded in death by a niece Mary Helen Copeland (Trip) and a nephew, Peck Cranston.    

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Camp Hopewell of Oxford or an organ donor and transplant organization. For further information or to leave an online condolence, please call 662.234.7971 or visit www.wallerfuneralhome.com.