FLORIDA, November 6 – Emilee C. Spencer, 96, died peacefully in her home in Gainesville, Florida on Monday, November 3, 2008.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Buckingham Community Cemetery, Buckingham, with the Rev. James Dunn, pastor of the Dillwyn First Baptist Church officiating.

Family will receive friends Friday, November 7, from 6-8 p.m. at Dunkum Funeral Home, Dillwyn.

Mrs. Spencer graduated high school in Magnolia, Alabama and went to nursing training in Decatur, Alabama, where she lived for fourteen 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 dietician for Jacksonville Junior College.

In 1952 she married Charles M. Spencer and moved to Buckingham. 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 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 long time member of Maysville Presbyterian Church, Buckingham.

In 1998, Mrs. Spencer moved to Gainesville, Florida to be near her sister, Willie Mack Cross of Gainesville, Florida and nieces, Carol Koogler (John) of Gainesville, Florida, Betty Brown (Harry), of Attapulgus, Georgia, and Mildred Eldridge of Tallahassee, Florida. She resided in her home in Gainesville, Florida with loving caregivers until her death.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 40 years, Charles M. Spencer; four sisters, Grace Diel of Friendly Valley, California, Mildred Oppenheimer of Des Moines, Iowa, Ethel Sue Carillon of Birmingham, Alabama, and Virginia Rainey of Laurel, Mississippi; one brother, George Crocker, of Selma, Alabama; one half-brother, Jim Frank Crocker, of Grove Hill, Alabama and one nephew, Barnwell Reynolds, of Houston, Texas.

Survivors include one sister, Willie Mack Cross of Gainesville, Florida; three half-brothers, Charles Crocker (Carla) of Gastonburg, Alabama, Bruce Crocker (Nicky) of Thomaston, Alabama, and Michael Crocker (Robin) of Birmingham, Alabama; one half-sister, Kay Smith (James) of Arlington, Alabama; six nieces, including Marie Stannard (Jim) of Houston, Texas, Kathy Grace Oppenheimer of Des Moines, Iowa; one nephew, John Frank Crocker (Letta Rae), Natchez, Mississippi; seven grandnieces; five grandnephews; and nine great grandnieces and nephews.

Donations can be made to the Buckingham County Rescue Squad in memory of Charles and Emilee Spencer.

Arrangements by Dunkum Funeral Home, Dillwyn.