Emilee C. Spencer

SPENCER, Emilee C., 96, died peacefully in her home in Gainesville, Florida, on Monday, November 3, 2008. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 8, 2008 at Buckingham Community Cemetery, Buckingham, Virginia, with the Rev. James Dunn, pastor of the Dillwyn First Baptist Church, officiating. Family will receive friends Friday, November 7, 2008 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dunkum Funeral Home, Dillwyn, Virginia. Mrs. Spencer graduated high school in Magnolia, Alabama, and went to nursing training in Decatur, Alabama, where she lived for 14 years. She moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where she owned and operated several business establishments, including a popular dinner club, "The Little Southerner." She moved to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1951 to become the dietitian for Jacksonville Junior College. In 1952 she married Charles M. Spencer and moved to Buckingham, Virginia. During the following 40 years she enjoyed collecting antiques and art objects, gardening, traveling, cooking, and joyful gatherings with a wide circle of friends and family. She operated Spencer's Antiques and Restaurant in Buckingham, Virginia, for many years. Her weekly smorgasbord was a well-known event around the county. Mrs. Spencer was a charter member of the Buckingham Women's Club and a longtime member of Maysville Presbyterian Church, Buckingham, Virginia. In 1998, Mrs. Spencer moved to Gainesville, Florida, to be near her sister, Willie Mack Cross, Gainesville, Florida, and nieces, Carol Koogler (John), Gainesville, Florida, Betty Brown (Harry), Attapulgus, Georgia, and Mildred Eldridge, Tallahassee, Florida. She resided in her home in Gainesville, Florida, with loving caregivers until her death. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 40 years, Charles M. Spencer; four sisters, Grace Diel, Friendly Valley, California, Mildred Oppenheimer, Des Moines, Iowa, Ethel Sue Carillon, Birmingham, Alabama, Virginia Rainey, Laurel, Mississippi; one brother, George Crocker, Selma, Alabama; one half-brother, Jim Frank Crocker, Grove Hill, Alabama; and one nephew, Barnwell Reynolds, Houston, Texas. Survivors include one sister, Willie Mack Cross, Gainesville, Florida; three half-brothers, Charles Crocker (Carla), Gastonburg, Alabama, Bruce Crocker (Nicky), Thomaston, Alabama, Michael Crocker (Robin), Birmingham, Alabama; one half-sister, Kay Smith (James), Arlington, Alabama; six nieces, including Marie Stannard (Jim), Houston, Texas, Kathy Grace Oppenheimer, Des Moines, Iowa; one nephew, John Frank Crocker (Letta Rae), Natchez, Mississippi; seven grand-nieces; five grandnephews; and nine great-grandnieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dunkum Funeral Home, Dillwyn, Virginia.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.