Obituaries

Simon Cornell Spencer, 87, of Martinsville, VA departed from this life on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at Kindred Hospital, Greensboro, NC after a long illness. He was born on October 31, 1935, to the late Simon P. Spencer and Amanda Parker Eggleston Spencer.

At age fifteen, Simon was a member of the first graduating class from George Washington Carver High School in 1951. After graduation, he matriculated at Virginia State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1955. In 1973, he earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Virginia.

Simon lived in Sierra Leone, West Africa while teaching at Pujehun secondary school from 1963 to 1965 as an early Peace Corps volunteer once the agency was established in March 1961 by an executive order of President John F. Kennedy and then formally authorized by Congress in September 1962 as the Peace Corps Act.

Simon was employed by the Henry County Public School System where he taught science at Mary Hunter Elementary School, Drewry Mason High School and George Washington Carver High School. He was later appointed school principal at Richard H. Clark Elementary School, Campbell Court Elementary School and Irisburg Elementary School, helping to pioneer the racial integration of the local school system.

Simon was eventually appointed as an assistant school principal at Fieldale-Collinsville High School until his retirement in 1997 after many years of service. In addition, he taught classes on African and African-American history as well as culture for local schools, at Patrick Henry Community College and as a part-time instructor for the Extension Program of the University of Virginia.

A Second Lieutenant infantry officer at Fort Benning, GA, Simon had been a member of the United States Army Reserve since 1957. He served until his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1989. As a Major, Simon had been appointed the commanding officer for the Army Reserve Garrison unit based in Martinsville — US Army Reserve Unit (The 2174th) and received an Army Commendation Medal for the unit’s outstanding performance. Simon’s military experience profoundly influenced his life as he was extremely proud of his service.

Simon was a former member of the Henry County Board of Supervisors representing the Horsepasture district where he served two terms as Vice-chairman and then Chairman. He also helped to charter and served as a Director for Carter Bank & Trust (formerly Patrick Henry National Bank) which has become one of the largest state-chartered banks with the most branches in Virginia. Simon also spearheaded the development of two residential sub-divisions in the Henry County area — John Spencer Court and Oakwood Park.

Simon had a passion for history, education, service and community reflected in his involvement with various civic and service organizations throughout his life. He was a member of The American Legion Homer Dillard Post 78, The Carver Ruritan Club, and The Fayette Area Historical Initiative (FAHI), as well as Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity (ΚΑΨ) where he was initiated into the Alpha Phi Chapter at Virginia State University in the Fall of 1952 and continued his post-graduate involvement with the Kappa Alpha Psi Martinsville (VA) Alumni Chapter.

Simon was a life-long civil rights as well as education advocate and considered a preeminent authority on African and African-American history; one of his greatest memories was participating in the March on Washington on August 28, 1963, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech.

Not only did he teach classes and conduct lectures on African and African-American history, he owned a bookstore featuring and showcasing African and African-American literature as well as art. He also organized and conducted SAT preparation and tutoring sessions for local college-bound high school students.

Those left behind to cherish his memory include his wife, Ollie Flood Spencer of the home; three daughters, Yvonne M. Spencer of Collinsville, VA, Dr. Patricia S. Davis of Providence, RI, and Denise J. Spencer of High Point, NC; one son, Alan B. Spencer of Danville, VA; one sister, Doris S. Scales of Martinsville, VA; four grandchildren; Simone V. Skinkiss, Andrea N. Venable, Joëlle A. Davis and Morgan A. Spencer; two great-grandchildren; Grayson C. Skinkiss and Essa A. Thompson and a host of other relatives and friends.

A family visitation will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral at 12:00 noon at Mayo Missionary Baptist Church with Reverend Dwight Mack and Elder Andrew Kevin Hunter delivering eulogies. The burial will follow at Carver Memorial Gardens, 1310 Carver Road, Martinsville. A public visitation will be held Friday, July 21, 2023, at Hairston Funeral Home, 301 Fayette Street, Martinsville from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

To view live streaming of the funeral service, go to Hairston Funeral Home live on Facebook.

Courteous, efficient, and dependable services provided by Hairston Funeral Home.