By Molly Igoe
News Editor
Betty Lee Spence was always around to smile and brighten someone’s day—someone who was “so nice and easy to get along with,” said Antoine Reid, her coworker.
Spence, a food service worker in the Dining Hall, died on Saturday, Nov. 25.
In an email sent out to campus staff, Director of Dining Services Don Stanwick said, “Ms. Spence was a valued member of the Washington College community—a smiling face in the hustle and bustle of the dining hall and wonderful colleague who was devoted to her department and her college family. She will be deeply missed by the WC faculty, staff, and all of the students who knew her.”
Janet Thompson, who has worked at the Dining Hall for 13 years, ate lunch with her every day. She described Spence as “down to earth and never in a bad mood.”
At lunch, Spence often talked about her granddaughter and daughter. “She always had the biggest smile on her face when she talked about the things her granddaughter said,” Thompson said.
Stanwick said he will miss her a lot.
“It’s sad to see someone go unexpectedly like that,” he said. “I think I speak for the majority of my staff; we’re all going to miss her and her presence, her attitude and the way she looked at things. Her happiness is something you can’t replace. It’s truly going to be missed.”
Spence’s visitation is Saturday Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Robinson A.M.E Church, 816 Grasonville Cemetery Rd in Grasonville. The funeral service will be held after at 1 p.m.
Flowers can be sent to the funeral: www.benniesmithfuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/3353721/Spence-Betty/obituary.php
Students, faculty, and staff can share their memories of Spence for the print publication here.