Robert “Robbie” Haley Spencer Jr. went home to be with the Lord on Friday, May 1, 2020.
He was born in Richmond to Barbara Wake Spencer Holmes and the late Robert Spencer Sr. on January 2, 1969.
At the time of his death, he was living in Haddonfield, N.J., but he grew up in Wake. He was raised in a large, loving family with his grandparents, Alvin “Billy” and Helen Wake, his mother, and his aunts and uncles.
Early in his life, he accepted the Lord Jesus as his Savior at Grafton Baptist Church under the ministry of the late Dr. Chauncey E. Mann Jr. Dr. Mann was a mentor and special friend to him during his formative years. Dr. Mann encouraged his positive and spiritual qualities as a youth leader in ministries at Grafton.
He attended Middlesex High School and graduated in the class of 1987. Throughout his school career, he excelled in academics and extracurricular activities. He was a born leader and loved participating in school clubs and activities. He was often on the honor roll and the dean’s list in college. He was a star player on the Middlesex High School varsity basketball team and received MVP and tournament honors.
After graduation, he attended Virginia Tech, and in 1993, he graduated from Prince George’s Community College with a degree in Information Systems, and in that same year, he was also awarded a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Marymount University. While at Marymount, Robbie continued with his love of basketball. He was on the starting five at Marymount and helped to lead them to a conference championship title. He furthered his education and received a Masters of Business Administration degree in E-Commerce from West Chester State University in 2004. At the time of his death, he was the supervisor of the E-Commerce Department at Burlington Industries in New Jersey.
He leaves to mourn his loss, two children, Darren Wolfe (Samantha) and Hailey Spencer; three grandchildren, Tovah, Finley and Welles Wolfe; ex-wife, Christy Spencer; mother, Barbara Holmes; step-father, Everett Holmes; grandfather, Alvin Wake Sr.; sister, Cicely Mitchell (Cedric); brothers, Thomas Holmes (Cassandra) and Brian Holmes; step-sister, Karen Rickard; six aunts; eight great-aunts; five uncles; one great-uncle; eight nieces; 13 nephews; former father-in-law, Bill Romig; two former sisters-in-law; and two former brothers-in-law; and a host of cousins and friends. He was especially close to his uncle, Neil Wake.
Visitation will be at J.K. Redmond Funeral Home, 3632 Lewis B. Puller Memorial Highway, Shacklefords, on Saturday, May 9, from 1-3 p.m. A graveside service will follow at 4 p.m. at Grafton Baptist Church located at 425 Grafton Church Road, Hartfield. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Amelia Perkins Scholarship Fund at Grafton Baptist Church.
