Willa Mae (Gaines) Spencer

WILLA MAE SPENCER was born on November 26, 1934, in Chicago, IL. She passed away on June 23, 2019 while residing in the home of her son, Marwin William Spencer, a resident in a suburb of Dallas, TX. She was the fourth child of six children. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roosevelt and Clara Gaines; two brothers, Roosevelt, Jr. and Lee Arthur; her husband of 44 years, William Spencer, Jr.; and her youngest son, Mark Kevin Spencer.

Willa grew up on the west side of Chicago. She graduated from McKinley High School in 1953 and attended Herzl Jr. College to obtain an Associate Degree. She began her career as an Executive Secretary working for Metropolitan Mutual Insurance Company. She was employed with them for approximately 14 years. After she and William purchased a home in Oak Park, IL in the summer of 1969, she decided to make a career change and became a Private Nurse, providing health care to elderly residents who lived in the western suburbs of Chicago. She was a resident of Oak Park for 50 years before she became ill and relocated to Texas to live with her son and his family.

Willa was a devoted Christian and a long-time member of Christ Temple Apostolic Faith Church located on the West Side of Chicago. She was a faithful and committed servant, having served as a Sunday School Teacher and a Trustee. She was also a member of the culinary staff, involved with meal preparations which were served on Sunday’s and other occasions as needed. She will be specially remembered for initiating the Annual Senior Citizen Dinner. Once a year, the Senior Citizen members of Christ Temple were transported to a buffet restaurant, where they were treated to an assortment of food choices, complements of the Church.

Willa is survived by her son, Marwin William Spencer and his wife, Denise; two granddaughters, Stacey Allyce Spencer and Hannah Marie Spencer; three loving and supportive sisters: Juanita Robinson and her husband, James, Elbertha “Ellie” Thorpe, and Arlene Haire; as well as a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

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