LC says goodbye to #1 fan
Chelsea Bower, Fact Checker
Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: Health & Lifestyles
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Associate Chaplain Anne Gibbons said Spencer had many different health problems but was only recently diagnosed with cancer, which caused her hospitalization.
Spencer is known for her warm welcomes at the Dining Hall to each student and faculty member. During her 26 years at LC, Spencer was also a faithful fan and cheerleader for LC athletic teams. An award was established in her honor as a result of her fervent dedication and passion, Gibbons said in Chaplain's Corner.
"In my mind, Betty Spencer is the best example I know of what it means to minister. She has been the heart and soul of Lynchburg College and we are a better campus and we are better people because Betty loved us and allowed us to love her in return," Gibbons said in an email.
A celebration of Spencer's life was held at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 28, at Snidow Chapel. LC's mens lacrosse team and other students helped facilitate the event. Spencer's family and much of her LC family attended the event.
Vice President and Dean for Student Development John Eccles spoke at the service.
"She was the only person I knew who could be at 4 athletic events simultaneously. She was always there -she was more than there. She was in it all the time. That was her gift to us. She also was sure to give you her Betty-stare if you forgot your ID for the ump-teenth time," Eccles said.
Gibbons said in an email that she remembers driving with Spencer to Mens Lacrosse Coach Stephen Koudelka's wedding. Gibbons said Spencer drove every mile and that they never turned the radio on because Spencer proudly recounted stories of her children and grandchildren.
What Gibbons said she did not expect to hear were stories about all the students Spencer had come to know and love during her years at LC. That weekend, Gibbons said she learned that her ministry as a chaplain was a "little drop in the bucket" compared to what Betty did every single day. Spencer knew "generations of students by name" and every aspect of each student's life, Gibbons said.
Junior Elizabeth Childress, a native of Lynchburg, remembers her first time walking into the Dining Hall as a freshman. She said she knew Spencer but had not seen her in almost ten years and was surprised that Spencer recognized and remembered her. Childress said it made her first few experiences at the Dining Hall comfortable and feel "like home."
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