Deacon "C. L." Curlie Lee Spencer Sr.

Mr. Curlie Lee Spencer (C.L.), a resident of Wheeler County, GA passed into eternal rest on Friday, July 10, 2020 surrounded by his family. Mr. Spencer is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ed and Lula Spencer. He was born in the New Hope Community near Smithville, Mississippi on July 27, 1926. C.L. attended Jones Borough School until the 5 th grade when he was needed to work with the family on the farm. He left Mississippi at 15 years old, and traveled to Lumber City, GA where he built a life. Curlie Lee moved into a boarding house with a family named Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Nellie Ann Griggs, and earned a living working at a lumber mill and later began driving log trucks to Union Camp in Savannah, GA. He married Doretha Baker on August 15, 1943 and they were married for 70 years. To this union, 6 children were born, one of whom preceded him in death. Curlie Lee was drafted into the United States Army in 1944, and was sent to Texas for basic training. He was stationed in Oklahoma and Germany. He lived in Germany for 10 months before being transferred to North Carolina. He served 3 years before being honorably discharged. During his military service he not only provided for his wife, but he also sent $30 a month back to his parents in Mississippi to help care for his siblings. C.L believed in helping and taking care of family, and he was always willing to work and support his loved ones. He returned to Lumber City after his military service and worked as a sharecropper, but he quickly decided he wanted more for his family. He also knew he needed a plan to do that. He began school to continue his education and learned about agriculture and farming. He continued to sharecrop and save; and together he and his wife Doretha purchased their first piece of property, 26 1/2 acres of land for $1200.00. During this time, it was unheard of for a black man in the South to purchase land, but C.L. knew the importance of relationships and he remained in contact with Woodrow Burr, the white man he traveled from Mississippi with at 15 years old. C.L. was threatened and told to go back where he came from because he wouldn't be allowed to purchase the land. Woodrow helped him, and he was able to complete the sale. He sold the timber on the land and was able to pay the balance. C.L was just 20 years old when he purchased those 26 acres of land. He began to farm his own land, and he purchased a herd of Black Aberdeen Angus cows. His herd was the first of that breed in Wheeler County. For over 40 years he raised cows and hogs as well as farmed cotton, tobacco, corn, and wheat. In a system where he was meant to fail, he and Doretha worked hard to ensure their family survived through prayer and hard work. He and Doretha were members of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as the Chairman of the Deacon board for decades. He was an usher, prayer leader, treasurer, and overall dedicated servant in the church. Through his faith in God, prayer, and determination he was able to purchase over 250 acres of land in Wheeler County during his lifetime. He always said the bible says leave your children an inheritance, and he made sure that each of his children were deeded a farm prior to his death. C.L. and Doretha created a welcoming home that was built on hard work, determination, and order. If someone was in need and they were able to help, they did. In 1963 when C.L.'s sister Eloise passed suddenly, he and Doretha welcomed four of her children into their home. They raised Janice, Alfred, David, and Shandra. Twenty five years later they opened their home again to Shandra's children Kawaski, Leceddrick, Tramikia, and Jamil. Their life lessons, discipline, and strict love molded so many generations, and C.L. consistently showed-through his actions-what can be accomplished through faith and hard work. He preached the importance of an education and modeled that by taking classes to ensure he was able to grow as a farmer and businessman. C.L began his travels within Prince Hall Masonry in Grand Lodge Union #44 in 1947, and later he served as Worship Master. In February of 2007, he received an award for 60 years of dedicated and loyal service rendered to the Prince Hall Masonry Jurisdiction of Georgia. At the time of his death he had 73 years of service and was a lifetime member. He was welcomed into heaven by his son, Curlie Lee Spencer, Jr., his devoted wife of 70 years, Doretha Spencer, and grandson Renwick Wooten. His family who will continue to cherish, celebrate, and share his memories are five children, Benoral (Joe Frank) Wooten of Carol City, FL; Jessie Lee (Vivian) Spencer of Lumber City, GA; Evelyn (Willie) James of Savannah, GA; Wallace (Mozelle) Spencer of Savannah, GA; Ira Joe (Charlotte) Spencer of Lumber City, GA. He also leaves two brothers and one sister, Frank (Louise) Spencer of Smithville, MS; Willie Frank Spencer of Gary, IN; Lucille Jackson of Aberdeen, MS. He leaves eleven grandchildren, twenty four great grandchildren, and four great- great grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his parents, brothers: C.D. Spencer and E.J. Spencer, sisters: E. L. Carter, Eloise Mitchell, Ira Spencer and two sisters in law: Johnnie Spencer and Missouri Spencer.