Bishop Dr. Emanuel Spearman is the son of Mrs. Willie Belle Spearman-Parker and the late Jesse C. Spearman/ James A. Parker Sr., whose rearing was assisted by Mrs. Eula M. Freeman and Mrs. Rachel Holiday Adams.
After graduating and receiving his diploma for education in the Greenwood County School system, he went on to study Machine Tooling at Piedmont Technical College, where he later extended his studies to include CPR Instruction, graduating with with a BCLS Certification and Business Certification in Business Administration. He later furthered his education by attending Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, graduating as a LPN, Christ Chapel of Religion Study Corresponding School, Benedict College School of Religion, South Carolina State School of Religion and Morris College School of Religion, where he completed his studies with and Associate Degree in Religion in 1994, In 1996 He completed his Bachelor of Christian Work and received his Masters of Theology in 1999, he also has his Doctor of Divinity in Religion. Bishop Spearman also taught for 28 years in the Greenwood County School System and 15 of those years he was devoted to teaching Special Education.
Bishop Emanuel Spearman was called to preach and after running for five years, he excepted his calling during revival at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in the Promise Land Community. Bishop Emanuel Spearman began preaching in the Mather Lula Turner Prayer Band, going form house to house on Monday nights. During this time he was also doing street minister to whom he come in contact with. After the death of Pastor H.B. Mitchell, Dr. Ed F. Johnson became the pastor of Morris Chapel Baptist Church. Emanuel as he is called was baptized in JESUS name to go forth and do God's Will. After preaching two years he was given his license in 1970 to preach God's Word. In 1975 he was ordained by the Little River Association. In July 1995, he was ordained in Shiley, NC in the Freewill Baptist Church as a Bishop.
Bishop Spearman is an advocate in the judicial system, as he was for Edward Elmore in the Supreme Court of S.C. to spare Mr. Elmore's life. Edward Elmore has r been taking off of Death Row and is now a free man. A book, The Anatomy of Injustice: Justice Gone Wrong, has been written about the case which aired on Court T.V. which is now Tru T.V., as a documentary which Bishop Spearman appeared in. Also another documentary was also aired on CNN called the Death Row Stories in which Bishop Spearman also appeared in.
In the religious area, Bishop Spearman was awarded several Gospel Singer of the Year for the Abbeville and Greenwood Counties. He served as the Assistant Chapter Representative of Greenwood, Laurens and Saluda County under the administration of the National Gospel Music Worship of America, under Dr. James Cleveland and Dr. James Ford. He served on the Executive Board of the S.C. State Education and Missionary Convention under Dr. J. O. Rich and the Executive Board of the National Baptist USA Convention Inc.
Over the years Bishop Spearman has achieved many awards in teaching, singing and developmental growth of communities. His Most recent acheivements includes his production of "Church Folks: Heaven or Hell,: a play in which he wrote and directed. Cast in this play was the Bethel Combined Choir, church members and featured Minister Leonard Williams of the Williams Bothers. He has be nominated and awarded the Gospel Legend Award
Not only is Bishop Spearman the current pastor of the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church and Beulah Baptist Church, but he has also pastored several churches in the area among them being: Cokesbury Baptist Church of Hodges, SC, Mt. Olive Baptist Church of Abbeville, SC, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church of Abbeville, SC, St. Goodwill of McCormick, SC, re-opened Union Baptist, New Faith Baptist Church in Newberry, SC. and he assisted the stewards in founding Angel Holiness Mission.
At Bethel, under Bishop Spearman's ministry, there is Tuesday Night Bible Study, Wednesday Night Leardership Class, seven deacons, fourteen deaconess, a cemetary has been started, the church obtained more land, the fellowship hall has been added, the sanctuary has been remodeled, a lawnmower, bus and van has been purchases, the 1st preacher was ordained in Bethel's history, Morning Glory Prayer Line, The church has traveled to various states even to Nigara Falls, Canada. The choir has even recorded two albums.
Bishop Spearman who was married to the late Azalee McDuffie Spearman, is a loving and devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather to his children and is "granddaddy" to the other children who know and love him. Truly meeting Bishop Spearman and having him be in your life is nothing short of a blessing.