Anna Mae Burdette Goode Howard Spencer passed away on Tuesday, August, 25, 2020. She was born on August 15, 1922 in Lexington, Kentucky to Thelma Basil Burdette and Emmett Goode. Thelma married Clyde Howard and moved three-year-old Anna Mae to Chicago, Illinois. Anna had a wonderful life in Chicago.

On Sundays after church, her parents took Anna to the Harlem Airport to watch black aviators put on fantastic air shows. It is where Anna meets her future husband and African American aviators like Bessie Coleman, Harold Hurd, and Dale White. Flight lessons taught under the direction of Cornelius Coffee began aviation flight instruction to Blacks in Chicago. In 1940, Anna graduates from DuSable High School. She left behind her dream to attend Business College for marriage and drop the "a" from the end of her given name and replace with an "e".

Nicknamed Anne, Jr., after she marries Chauncey Edward Spencer, Sr. on August 18, 1940 at Harlem Airport, Chicago, Illinois. Anna continues her education while serving as a Civil Servant in the United States Army Air Corps, (Air Force) and obtains Business Administration & Counseling Certification. Anna then pursues a career as a civil servant in the United States Army Air Corps. In 1941, after six months of employment she is sent to set up the personnel office and Records Section at the Tuskegee Sub-Depot, Moton Air Force Base in Tuskegee, Alabama. Stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, in Dayton, Ohio. Anne serves as a Placement Officer until 1956. During the early1950's, Chauncey and Anna open the Park Moore Drive-In Restaurant down the air strip from the Wright Patterson Air Force Base. It was a popular hangout for the airmen and civilians traveled in and around the Air Force Base.

In 1956, Anne and Chauncey moved with their four children to San Bernardino, California, both serve as Civil Servants in the Air Force stationed at Norton's Air Force Base. Anne becomes a Buyer in the Printing Department. Successful restaurant owners Anna and Chauncey open their second restaurant Spencer's Steak House in Rubido, CA.  In 1959, Chauncey becomes an active member with the local chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Anne becomes a member of the Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc.

After Anne retires from the Army Air Force in 1969, she began a new career with the General Telephone Company as a Service Representative. In 1970, while employed at the telephone company, Anne and Chauncey become the owners of an Avis Rental Car Franchise. The focus of their business is to provide vehicles to the airmen who rent vehicles for business and pleasure travel.

In 1971, Chauncey's longtime friends from Highland Park, Michigan call him for help to rebuild the city within Detroit known as Highland Park. The local economy, government, infrastructure and development devastated during the 1967 Detroit riots. Soon Anne and Chauncey pack up house again and this time with six of their eight children and move to Highland Park, Michigan.

Anne is employed as the Personnel Director at Highland Park Hospital. Anne supports Chauncey's work and interests. The Detroit Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen's Inc. is founded in the living-room of their 51 Mc Lean home. The Detroit Chapter is the founding chapter of the National Association of the Tuskegee Airmen Chapters throughout the United States. Anne becomes an active member and establishes the Tuskegee Airmen's women's auxiliary and serve as treasurer.

In 1975, Chauncey's mother Anne Bethel Spencer, an American Poet died. Although, Chauncey and Anne plan to return to San Bernardino, California after their short layover in Highland Park, Michigan, agree in 1977 to move their family once again to Lynchburg, Virginia, and plan to return to California again.

In Lynchburg, Anne and Chauncey purchase their home across the street from where Chauncey was born and grew up. The two become the co-founders of the Anne Spencer Memorial Foundation. Today, the non-profit organization oversees the historic museum properties designated a Virginia Historic Landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic places. Known as the Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum, Inc. today a Lynchburg designation and must see. Visitors travel from around the world to visit the historic shrine museum and garden.

After Anne and Chauncey move to Lynchburg, Anne's career with the Commonwealth of Virginia is as the Program Director for the Rent A Youth Program and Claims Examiner. Anne serves over twenty years and retires in 1996.

Soon after retirement Anne and daughter Shaun open an Antique and Interior Design shop located in Farmville, Virginia. In 2002, Anne works to commemorate her late husband's accomplishments and raise the Chauncey E. Spencer Virginia Highway Marker placed in front of their Pierce Street home. In 2003, Anne works to establish the Pierce Street Renaissance Historic District to recognize the achievements of the many African –Americans who once lived between the 1300-1400 blocks of Pierce Street.

Anne is predeceased by her husband, Chauncey Edward Spencer, Sr., and four children, Edward Alexander Spencer II, Carol Anne Spencer-Read, Joel Bannister Spencer and Kyle O'Shaunessy Marietta Spencer Thompson.

Anne is survived by four children, Michael Spencer, Lu Juan Spencer Mc Mullen, (Lee), Chauncey Spencer II, and Shaun Spencer-Hester.

Anne is the grandmother of twelve grandchildren, Edward Spencer, III, Melissa Read Thomas, (Chris), Nicole Jenkins, Danielle Lattisia Harden, Marcus Butler, Lyle Mc Mullen, Jordan Hester (Andrea Hurley), Michael Spencer II, Jennie Spencer, (Jared Taylor), Lynnsey Mc Mullen Dennis, (Michael),  Logan Mc Mullen, Darrion Spencer.

Anne is the great grandmother of ten great grandchildren; Edward Spencer IV, Devin Minnis, Dominique Harden, Ian Thomas, Richard Jones, Alyssa Dennis, Ryan Marie Dennis, Isabella Taylor, Donald Taylor II, and step-grandchildren AShawn Taylor, and Alexandrea Taylor.

In addition Anne is survived by family to include a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

A family gathering will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2020.

At the: The Anne Spencer Garden

1313 Pierce Street

1:00 - 3:00 pm.

A mask and social distancing are required.

In lieu of flowers send cards and memorial donations to:

The Anne Spencer Memorial Foundation, Inc., 1313 Pierce Street, Lynchburg, Virginia 24501