Barbara Spencer

1935 - 2025

Barbara Spencer, SCN, 90, (formerly Sister Mary Bridget) was born January 31, 1935, in Tupelo, Miss., to Jack and Ruth Spencer. She was the second of three children with an older brother, Douglas and a younger sister, Dorothy. After her father's early death, she was raised by her step-father Joseph Cottingham. She died October 8, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. She was a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 68 years.

Sister Barbara was a primary teacher for many years, teaching young students at St. Thomas More, Holy Name, and St. Cecilia in Louisville; St Mary in St. Clairsville, Ohio and St. Joseph in Bowling Green; and St. Peter Home in Memphis, Tenn. From 1969-1976 she was principal at St. Michael in Memphis.

When she finished her principalship at St. Michael's, Sister Barbara moved to West Memphis to be supportive of Sister Theresa Knabel who was in ministry at St. Patrick's, a downtown parish in the heart of the city. Their rental home on Orleans Street became the gathering place for the Priests and Sisters of St. Patrick's.

In the fall of 1976 Sister Barbara began serving the Diocese of Memphis in the Office of Religious Education where she was religious education consultant and supervisor of the parish religious education for children. During this time, she had the opportunity to study at Seattle University in Seattle, Washington as she prepared for her master's in religious education which she received in 1979.

Sister Barbara began a new phase of her ministry in 1980 when she joined the staff at Dogwood Villages (now called Youth Villages), a non-profit organization whose mission is to help troubled children and families live successfully. As Director of Education for eighty youth, Sister Barbara served as advocate for these youth by working with teachers and counselors.

Her honors include becoming the first recipient of the Clarence Day Legacy Award given by Youth Villages each year to a person who has dedicated his or her life to helping children. An additional honor was bestowed upon Sister Barbara by naming an education building for her at Youth Villages. Sister Barbara was one of five women in Memphis who received the White Rose Award from the West Tennessee Chapter of the March of Dimes for exemplary achievement in professional work and community involvement

She is survived by her sister Dorothy Leedom, her extended family, and her SCN Community.

Arrangements are as follows: Wake service Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. with Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, October 13th at 10:30 a.m. Services and Visitation will be held in St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church at Nazareth. Burial will follow her Mass in Nazareth Motherhouse Cemetery. Services will be streamed live at Nazareth.org/live.

Funeral Arrangements are being handled by Ratterman Funeral Home, 3800 Bardstown Road in Louisville. Memorials may be made to the Office of Mission Advancement, PO Box 9, Nazareth, KY, 40048. Online condolences may be shared at www.ratterman.com.