Henderson Charles Spence

Henderson Charles Spence, Jr., 85, of LaBelle FL passed away on Saturday, February 23, 2013 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was born in Jacksonville, FL on January 29, 1928 to Henderson Charles and Ruth Carroll Spence. He graduated from Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, GA in 1946. As a young man, he worked on the Herbert Hoover Dike project as a surveyor. While stationed in Okeechobee, FL he met and married a local girl, Lois Marie Hair. He was drafted in 1950 into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. Henderson worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a draftsman, in the Rivers and Navigation Division, for the rest of his career in Savannah, GA. As an only child, his life-long dream had been to be a part of a large family. This dream was realized when Henderson and Lois raised their five children in Savannah and Richmond Hill, Georgia. He loved being the favored "Uncle Charles" to nieces and nephews, and the adopted "Granddaddy" to many other children. A close and happy family was paramount in his life. His greatest pleasure was to hold and love his grandbabies and vacation with them at St. Augustine Beach, FL. Henderson is survived by his wife of more than sixty two years; four children: daughter, Ruth (Bill) Harrell of Fortson GA; sons, Steven (Julie) Spence of LaBelle, FL; David (Kate) Spence of Mill Spring N.C.; Henderson John (Mabelle) Spence of Charlotte, N.C., 13 grandchildren, one great-grandson and one arriving great-grandson. Daughter, Alice Spence Bagley predeceased him in 2005. While serving in the Army, Henderson began studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. This knowledge changed his life by working hard to be a good husband, father and donating many hours in studying the Bible with other people so they too could find true happiness in their life. He served as an Elder in congregations in Savannah, Jacksonville, and LaBelle. A memorial service will be held in LaBelle at Akin-Davis Funeral Home on Friday, March 1, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Graveside services will be held at Oakland Cemetery in Waycross, Georgia on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. Visitation for friends and family will be on Thursday at Akin-Davis Funeral Home in LaBelle from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.