Berna Shawver Spencer

Obituary of Berna Spencer Berna Shawver Spencer of Lilburn, GA, went to be with her Lord and Savior, April 1, 2017, at Peachtree Christian Hospice in Duluth, GA. She was born on June 24, 1938 in the “hollers” (hollows) of Frametown, WV, to Jerald and Mildred Shawver. Berna learned self-discipline and hard work growing up on the family farm, including poultry barns. She walked three miles each day one way to catch the school bus to ride 13 more miles to school. She walked even in rain, freezing cold weather and snow on the ground, to catch the bus for school. She attended Gassaway High school, Gassaway, WV, graduating as valedictorian. Then, it was on to Glenville State College, Glenville, WV, on a teaching scholarship, and she graduated in three years with honors in 1960. To complete her education, she achieved the Master’s Degree in secondary education/business education at West Virginia University. She assumed a teaching position in business education at Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg, WV, for two years. In 1962, she married Pete Spencer, of Richwood, WV, and moved to Avondale Estates, Georgia and the next year to Tucker, Georgia to their first house. She accepted a position at Avondale High School, in Avondale Estates, GA, where she taught business education for 37 years. She served her last four years before retirement as Chairman of the Business Education Department at Avondale High School. Most years, at least one or more of her student(s) competed in statewide accounting contests, with some winning the state title and two taking the national title. The many students who called and came to visit her after retirement are testimonies to their love and respect for her. After retirement, she enjoyed the ADK sorority, church work, and she loved traveling in the USA and internationally. Most of all, she loved gardening, and only recently completed a two year term as President of Ladybugs Garden Club of Lilburn, GA. Berna and a long-time friend initiated the Ladybugs’ project of planting and maintaining the Camp Creek Greenway Trail’s 16 gardens in Lilburn over the past seven years. She served actively in the DeKalb Federation of Garden Clubs, regularly working at the Yellow Daisy Flower Show and taking home numerous awards. She was a steadfast, Godly, gentle person who loved her church and is known for her love and compassion for her many friends and family. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Jerry Shawver, of Parkersburg WV. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Pete Spencer of Lilburn, GA, her sister, Joan James and spouse, Ed James; and sister-in-law, Judy Shawver, both of Parkersburg, WV. She has many loving and caring nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews who have been of great help and comfort in her time of her illness. There will be a Memorial Service at Stone Mountain First United Methodist Church at 5312 West Mountain Street on April 15, at 2:00 p.m., followed by a reception in the Family Life Center. In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts to Stone Mountain First United Methodist Church, Stone Mountain, GA. 4/2/2017