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78S10249 JHS-D

By:  Lewis                                                      H.C.R. No. 5  



CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, The passing of Gregory Wayne Spencer of Fort Worth 
on June 24, 2003, at the age of 46, brought a great loss to the 
family, friends, and colleagues of this beloved and talented 
gentleman; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Fort Worth on December 14, 1956, Reverend 
Spencer graduated from Green B. Trimble Technical High School in 
1974 and earned a diploma in funeral directing and embalming from 
the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science the following year, 
becoming the youngest licensed funeral director in the United 
States; he later attended Texas Wesleyan University, where he 
studied business and religion; and
	WHEREAS, After nearly a decade with Baker Funeral Home in 
Fort Worth, Reverend Spencer began a series of entrepreneurial 
ventures that included his floral business, Flowers by Gregory; in 
1980 he founded Love and Care Funeral Home, establishing himself as 
the country's youngest sole proprietor of a funeral home, and in 
1985 he founded Gregory W. Spencer Funeral Directors, which he 
served as president and chairman of the board; and
	WHEREAS, A man of strong faith, he was ordained as a minister 
in July 1978 after devoting several years to serving the 
congregation of Zion Missionary Baptist Church; from 1978 to 1981 
he served as pastor of Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, and on 
November 5, 1981, he founded and became pastor of The Church at 
Philadelphia, where he baptized more than 1,250 people over the 
course of his distinguished tenure; and
	WHEREAS, Reverend Spencer was a noted civic leader who shared 
his time and resources with numerous organizations on the local, 
state, and national levels; his many affiliations included 
membership with the YMCA, the NAACP, and the Alpha Theta Sigma 
chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity; he also served on the 
boards of the Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, the Original 
King's Kids, the Sickle Cell Anemia Association, and Youth 
Encouraging Salvation, to name but a few; and
	WHEREAS, Gregory Spencer was well known for the many roles he 
played in his life, most notably pastor, evangelist, mortician, 
florist, poet, vocalist, community leader, orator, lyricist, and 
philanthropist; his life was a gift to all those who were fortunate 
to know him, and his spirit will surely live on in their hearts and 
minds for many years to come; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas, 
1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of Gregory Wayne 
Spencer and extend sincere sympathy to his family:  to his sons and 
daughters-in-law, Derrick and Michelle Johnson, Dondra and 
Gwensessa Johnson, Laron Warren, Demerrick "Cheerio" Williams, and 
Billy Nellums; to his mother, Flora Lawson; to his dear aunt, Hazel 
Ware; to his former wife and best friend, Rosalyn Spencer; to his 
brothers and sisters, Robert Spencer, Jr., and his wife, Dr. 
Cynthia Spencer Hodge, Melinda Spencer Anderson, the Reverend 
Michael Spencer, Sr., and his wife, Karen Spencer, Sandra Spencer 
White and her husband, Elder Anthony White, Veronica Spencer 
Thomas, Earlisa Spencer-Thomas and her husband, Tennis Thomas, and 
Joseph Spencer; to his aunts, Helen Minor, Martha Adams, Willie Mae 
Walton, Rosalyn Vaughn, Ethel "Duke" Davis, and Lula Howard; to his 
nine grandchildren and 33 nieces and nephews; to his extended 
family, Diane and James Evans, Sharon and Archer Perry, and 
Michelle Jones and the Reverend Charles Jones; to his business 
associate, E. J. Walton, and the staff members of Gregory W. Spencer 
Funeral Directors, Inc., Gregory W. Spencer & Sons Funeral 
Directors of Dallas, and The Church at Philadelphia; and to the many 
other relatives, friends, and colleagues of this esteemed 
gentleman; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of 
Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of 
Gregory Wayne Spencer.