Ovid Benjamin Sparks III, “Ben”, was born February 24, 1939 in Fort Worth, Texas and died March 28, 2026 at his home in Richmond, Va. Ben was the only child of Ovid Benjamin Sparks, Jr. and Mary Woodall Sparks. He grew up in Atlanta, Ga. with summers spent in Springville, Ala. at the family home on his mother’s side. He attended Davidson College (class of 1961) intending to become a doctor but, upon graduation, changed course and entered Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond in 1962.
Ben met the love of his life, Annette Smith Sparks, soon after he arrived in Richmond. They were married in 1969 in New Bern, N.C. Before they married, and following graduation from Union Seminary in 1965, Ben was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament by Atlanta Presbytery, PCUS. He then followed a call to join the Iona Community, in Scotland, and served as Assistant Minister of St. Serf’s Church in Tullibody, Scotland, UK from 1965-1967. These formative years deeply influenced Ben for the rest of his life and shaped his ministry in the USA.
Between the years of 1968 and 2007, Ben served the church in Virginia, Florida and Tennessee with an emphasis on urban ministry. It was in Richmond, Va. during his years as pastor of Second Presbyterian Church where his gifts found full expression. Known for speaking from his heart and for speaking the truth, from 1982 and through his retirement, Ben served on task forces and boards across the City of Richmond. Notably, he was deeply involved with Richmond Hill and Leadership Metro Richmond. His presence was a unifying force for the City.
Ben received an honorary doctorate degree from his alma mater, Davidson College, in 1992, but he never went by Dr. Sparks, preferring Reverend or simply, Ben. He loved people and was a gifted preacher, and his well-crafted prayers are works of art. His greatest joys were his wife, Annette, and two daughters, Kathryn and Elizabeth, all of whom are artists – musician, dancer and potter. He is survived by wife, Annette; daughters, Kathryn Sparks Carpenter (William) of Union Bridge, Md. and Elizabeth Sparks of Burnsville, N.C.; along with extended family in Virginia, Alabama and North Carolina and many loving friends at home and abroad.
A Service of Witness to the Resurrection followed by a celebratory reception in memory of Ben will be held at Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Va., on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 3 p.m. All are welcome.