James Kyle Spencer

The family will receive visitors at a reception at the Spencer Environmental Center, 303 12th Street, Columbus, on Thursday, July 16, 2015 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. There will be a private interment on Friday, July 17, 2015 at Linwood Cemetery.

Mr. Spencer was born in Columbus on December 17, 1926, son of Richard Perry Spencer III and Elizabeth Kyle Spencer. He graduated from Columbus High School and then completed a postgraduate year at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II, and graduated from Princeton University in 1948. Mr. Spencer was a principal in Spencer, Zimmerman and Pound securities firm and later was chairman of Trust Company of Columbus bank. He served on the board of directors at AFLAC for over 30 years.

He had many civic interests, several of which centered around historic preservation and environmental issues. He made the first significant pledge to the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper that helped that organization begin a successful lawsuit against the City of Atlanta to curb wastewater pollution in the river. He also co-founded Trees Columbus, which led the effort to plant a boulevard of oak trees on Veterans Parkway from 13th Street to 4th Street. He also personally oversaw the planting of many new trees in Linwood Cemetery. In 2004, Mr. Spencer established the Spencer Environmental Center. The Center occupies his great grandfather George P. Swift’s house in downtown Columbus and houses offices for six non-profit organizations that work to preserve and improve the natural environment in Columbus and the region.

Mr. Spencer and his wife, the late Sara Davis Spencer, were ardent supporters of Columbus State University. They started the Spencer Oxford Program at Columbus State University, which provides scholarships for students to attend Oxford University in England every year. In 2001, the Spencers donated a house in Oxford to the Columbus State Foundation. To date, over 600 students and faculty have studied at Oxford and resided at Spencer House. Mr. Spencer also collected maps of Georgia dating from the colonial era through the mid-19th century. In 2013 he donated the collection of over 80 maps to CSU.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years and their daughter, Louise Spencer Dupre of Rochester, New York. Survivors include son James K. Spencer, Jr. (Lynna) of Columbus, son Tracy E. D. Spencer (Kathy) of Columbus, and son Richard P. Spencer, II (Mary Leslie) of Atlanta, nine grandchildren and numerous cousins.

The family expresses its sincere appreciation for all of Mr. Spencer’s caregivers.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Trees Columbus, the Spencer Oxford Program of the Columbus State University, or your favorite charity. Condolences may be expressed at www.shcolumbus.com.