Velsa Blanche (Lilley) Spencer

Velsa Lilley Spencer ~  God began a wonderful work in Velsa Lilley Spencer on March 20, 1946 and brought it to the fulfillment of her faithful hope and His perfection on January 21, 2023 at age 76.

Velsa was a beloved daughter, wife, mother, “Granny V”, “Pete”, and friend who loved and was loved until the end and her new beginning, now clothed in her heavenly dwelling. She joins her mother, Magrane Wallace Lilley, father, Thomas Cecil Lilley, and sister, Cecilia Lilley Swain as citizens of heaven. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Wilson Spencer of Faison, two sons, Joshua Spencer of Wendell and Jacob Spencer of Charlotte, daughters in law, Amy Spencer (Josh) and Marilyn Spencer (Jake), three grandchildren, Lucas Spencer (Josh), Keeley Spencer (Jake), and Cameron Spencer (Jake), by her brother Cecil Lilley (April) of Harkers Island, brother-in-law Elwood Swain of Bath, and by numerous extended family, friends, and nieces and nephews that loved “Pete”.

Velsa Blanche Lilley was born and raised with Cecilia and Cecil on the family farm in Bath NC. She was a gifted student and graduated from Bath High School in 1963. She cherished the memories of “Mother and Daddy” and growing up on the farm on Mill Field Road, and loved the Bath community her entire life. Even as Alzheimer’s Disease progressed, her love for Bath, her childhood, and her family remained as lights in a dark valley. Velsa was also a talented student at East Carolina University and graduated in 1967 with an English degree, and she indeed was also an excellent writer and occasional poet. Her intention was to teach and she did for a time, and there were homes in Hickory, Newton, Beaufort, and Washington, but God’s plan for a hope and future for her life led to a career as a farm wife and partner, homemaker, and visionary education and community advocate in Sampson County. She surely made the home and the men her sons became, and did anything needed in the local schools and her community, serving on many local and county school advisory boards, volunteering at the Giddensville voting precinct for many years, and as a founding member of the Goshen Medical Center board. Velsa loved her neighbor as herself and blessed many lives with her service. She also served others with her musical talents, singing and playing piano at Poplar Grove Baptist Church. She had a lifelong love of all kinds of music, particularly hymns and Gospel, and loved going to performances, especially with her dear friend HK Gaster. While continuing to love her neighbor and her family, Velsa also found another career, later working as an administrative partner in real estate and then substance abuse counseling with another dear friend, Rossi McCoy.

All that she did and accomplished was secondary to what she did best — loving her family, friends, and neighbors with wisdom, kindness, and generosity. She loved well, and now has entered the place God has prepared for His good and faithful servant.

In lieu of flowers, Velsa’s beloved family would like to encourage those that loved her to help defeat the cruel scourge of Alzheimer’s Disease by donating in her honor to the Alzheimer’s Association or other worthy Alzheimer’s organization. Cards and condolences may be sent to Wilson at 985 Spencer Rd, Faison 28341, or offered on the Royal Hall Funeral Home website. A family visitation will be held at Royal Hall Funeral Home in Clinton on Wednesday, Jan 25 from 6-8 PM. A service in memory of her beautiful life will be held at Poplar Grove Baptist Church, 90 Giddensville Road, Faison on Thursday, Jan 26 at 1 PM.

The Spencer family offers our deep, heartfelt thanks to the medical professionals at Atrium Health Charlotte and the daily/hospice caregiving team at Brookdale — South Park Charlotte for the compassionate care they provided to Velsa and kindness shown to our family over these past few months.

One of Velsa’s favorite hymns was “When We All Get To Heaven”. Today and eternally she can “sing and shout the victory” as God’s beloved daughter, precious and honored in His sight, and by the side of He who has now made her faith her living reality.

Royal-Hall is honored to serve the Spencer family.

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