Velma W. Spencer, age 91, departed this life on May 4, 2020. Devoted wife of the late Everett Spencer, Sr.; loving mother of Kirk Spencer, Sr., Sabrina (Gerald) Spencer-Robins, preceding her in death 2 sons Everett Spencer Jr. and Sean Spencer. She leaves to cherish her memory sisters: Celestine Taylor, Lena Nobumoto, Elaine (Harold) Powers, Carmella Warren as well as 5 sisters and 1 brother who preceded her in death, Elizabeth Warren, Lurline Warren, Minnie Bell Johnson, Alvin Warren, Freddie Muse and Maxine McJimpson; and daughters-in-law: Patricia (Everett, Jr.) Spencer and Graciella (Sean) Spencer. Six grandchildren knew Velma as “Big Mama”: Kirk Spencer, Jr., Guadalupe Spencer, Nicole Spencer, Noell Spencer, Gerald Robins II, Blake Robins; and great-grandmother of three Leila, Dominic and Amber Spencer.
Velma was born on a 200-acre farm in Byhalia, (Marshall County) Mississippi on March 27, 1929 to the union of Alvin and Robbie Warren, the seventh of 11 children. The farm also had a grocery store with a gas pump, Coca Cola machine and a couple of benches out front. In the back of the store there was a small theatre where many performers came to sing including BB King when he was a child. Life was hard during that time as she and her siblings worked the farm by feeding the livestock of cows, pigs and horses; picking cotton, gathering eggs from the large chicken coop and tending to an expansive vegetable garden. The family woke up early in the morning to complete all their chores before walking three miles on an unpaved often muddy road to attend Isaac Chapel Grade School. They wore hand sewn clothes that her sister Lurline, who had cerebral palsy and did not attend school, would sew for them. During the Christmas holiday, Velma and her sister Freddie would ride their horses thru the farm looking for the perfect Christmas tree. They would chop one down, drag it home and make homemade ornaments and garland by stringing popcorn together with needle and thread and wrap it around the tree. After graduating from grade school, in search of a better opportunity, Velma moved to Cleveland and lived with her sister Celestine.
Velma was very pretty, with long dark blond hair and light skin so she quickly found work at the fine department store Halle Brothers. She worked in the cosmetic department selling make-up and perfumes. Velma had a big smile and personality to match. She was SPICY, a real red hot chili pepper. She would not hesitate nor hold back from colorfully telling you exactly what she thought. She loved people and she was a real people person. In 1952, Velma met Everett started courting and married in 1954. Everett worked construction while Velma became a homemaker and mother of 4 children. They joined Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church at Shaker Square in Cleveland, Ohio. The home on Ashwood soon became a hub of constant activity and a place where the neighborhood children with working parents would come. Velma was the disciplinarian and kept her children busy. Everett Jr. and Sean played drums on a silver 5 piece drum set with Zildjian cymbals. Kirk played electric guitar with amplifier. Sabrina played saxophone and piano at home. The kids were involved in the school band, judo, wrestling, track, ballet, dance and plays at the Karamu House Performing Arts Theatre. Velma could not swim and hated water above what you could put in the bathtub but she made sure the 4 children were avid swimmers. Christmas was by far the best. Everett would strap the life size Santa Claus to the chimney, lighting it up for all to see while Velma meticulously set up the fireplace with stockings for each child stuffed with toys and candy. She would set up different corners of the room for each person and piles of clothes, toys and goodies. She had presents for everyone including Aunts, Uncles, cousins, friends and neighborhood kids. It was always exactly what you wanted, needed and much much more.
Velma and Everett were always very lucky. They loved winning. They loved to share their winnings and have a really good time. Velma and Everett began to invest. They would buy homes and renovate them; sometimes keeping the homes and renting them out and sometimes reselling the homes. The Spencer’s even purchased an apartment building where Everett’s brother Harrison Jr. was the manager. In 1959, Velma was featured in Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper for winning $2,725 playing Cashwords, which was a contest posted weekly in the newspaper.
Velma and Everett loved to throw parties and she was a great cook. The Spencer’s would host Pokeno game nights, New Year’s Eve parties, birthday bashes, and neighborhood block parties. They knew how to party and have a really good time. Velma was adventurous and loved to travel, planning family cross-country driving trips every year. She would make sandwiches, load up the station wagon and play James Brown and The Temptations while driving to The Montreal Expo, Quebec Canada, Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada and rent cabins on Wasaga Beach, Ontario Canada. The family drove to visit relatives in Chicago, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; through the Blue Grass State of Kentucky, through Tennessee stopping in Ruby Falls, Chattanooga, Nashville, Knoxville, McMinnville and Memphis. Velma had the AAA TripTik and stopped at all the sites along the way, farther south to Byhalia, Mississippi, across the United States to the Petrified Forest National Park and Grand Canyon in Arizona, onto Las Vegas, Nevada checking out the strip and downtown. The family drove to Los Angeles, California, up the coast to San Francisco, California, even taking a helicopter to Alcatraz and a plane to Hawaii.
In 1989, on a secret excursion from Cleveland, Ohio to Los Angeles, California to visit her sisters, she went to CBS studios and stood in line for the Price Is Right game show. Yes, that’s right, “Velma Spencer come on down.” She was overjoyed with excitement and landed in contestants’ row with her Anne Klein earrings dangling from her ear lobes and pink lipstick. She had a big smile and bid the exact price of the item presented, winning a spot on stage where she drew a $100 bill from Bob Barker’s suit pocket. She told Bob Barker, my husband doesn’t even know I am here and Bob replied, “He does now” which generated loads of laughter. Velma played the 3 strikes game and pulled the 3 red strikes out of the bag losing the game. Then it was time to spin the Big Wheel and you guess it; Velma got the $1.00 on the Big Wheel and won $1000 and a spot in the infamous showcase showdown. Her opponent over bid paving the win for the lucky seventh child. Velma won a Ford Mustang II convertible car, Jacuzzi, entertainment center, outdoor grill and much more. In 1990, Velma, Everett Sr., Everett Jr., Sean and Sabrina Spencer appeared on The Family Feud Game Show.
As the children grew and moved away from Cleveland in favor of the west coast. In 1994, Velma and Everett sold their multiple properties and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada joining their son Kirk Spencer. They joined St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Roman Catholic Church. Velma picked the house on O’Bannon Drive which is a fixture in the neighborhood for the “Big O Sale”. You see the “Big O Sale” was Velma’s garage sale creation. She would attract a huge curious crowd. The neighbors would stop by and check her out so she was able to laugh and at the same time make a little change from her eccentric collection. In 1995, her grandson Kirk Jr. moved in with her and she did not miss a beat keeping up with him, going up to Bonanza High School and became a legend for her unorthodox disciplinary actions.
Their lifestyle changed and they loved going to different casino’s gathering up their treasures including rooms, buffets, shows and most of all money. Velma and Everett were passionate about seeing all the attractions, implosions and new growth in Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City, Mt. Charleston, Sunrise Mountain, Black Mountain and surrounding area. They would venture out in the desert in the Red Jeep Everett was known for. The Jeep that had a snowplow attachment that he used in Cleveland to plow out driveways that would fill with snow.
In her later years, Velma took the oath with the Secretary of State of Nevada and was appointed A Notary Public of Clark County where she maintained her License. She also attended Ray of Sunshine Adult Day Care where she was known as Mississippi Girl.
We would like to thank our mother for providing a great life full of joy and laughter and being the best example of a mother, aunt, friend to so many. We will always love you and will miss you tremendously. The family would like to express our sincere thanks to every act of kindness in our time of sadness.
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