Novie Mae Lewis was born on September 2, 1926 in Center, Texas to parents Moses N. Lewis and Tula Izoria "Dodie" Brown.  Novie graduated from Timpson High School in 1944.  She married Frank Mathis Sparks.  The couple had three children, Walter, Brenda and Maxie.  In 1973 her husband, Frank passed away at the age of 46.  Novie died on July 9, 2000 in Henderson, TX.  She was laid to rest in the County Line Cemetery in Rusk County beside her husband, Frank.