Pastor Lesa Smith, Rev Victor Cyrus-Franklin, Rev. Dr Althea Spencer-Miller(Wayne nicked named her mummy), Mayor Butts, other dignitaries. Wayne’s children: Sharrone Spencer, Chrystal Spencer daughters and Tanner Spencer son. Grandson Willie J. . My wife Dr. Patricia Spencer, Phillipa Spencer, Leighton Spencer, Judy Ali, Denise and Chandra, Family members, Ms. Robin Steptoe, Ms. Marie Keller, honored guests.

Wayne Arthur Garfield Spencer. The name Arthur was earned from his grandfather, Garfield was the name given by his father. He was born from leaders and became a leader- and was a winner over seven decades.

His Paternal grandfather was the first black officer in the colonial Jamaican Constabulary Force. On the maternal side his grandfather was the first black chartered accountant or CPA in Colonial Jamaica. Wayne’s mother Gwen Omphroy Spencer created history by being the first non-British woman who earned the appointment as the first Jamaican born to become the Matron of the Victoria Jubilee Hospital- the only maternity hospital in the island of Jamaica.

Egbert his amazing father taught him so many skills and the meaning and purpose of life.

Growing up, we had vivid memories of Daddy’s skills especially driving at fast speeds, a prowess Wayne duplicated as he grew into manhood.

He arrived on this earth on April 5th, 1952. He would have been 71 a few days from now.

2021-2023 Spencer Family Choral Fellowship

Wayne played a pivotal role in encouraging me to move forward to establish the Spencer Family Choral Fellowship. The fellowship is named to preserve the legacy of our parents. Gwen and Egbert Spencer. The Spencer Family Choral Fellowship is designed to provide a two-year stipend to a young man wishing to learn and sing music with the world renowned Kingston College Chapel Church. The students would be known as the Spencer Family Choral Fellows.

Our final discussion on the Fellowship happened on his penultimate day in his life, Saturday evening March 11th, 2023. We discussed how to evolve the Fellowship to the next level. We discussed how to expand the reach of our dream to assist the youths in Jamaica. When I presented that the Fellowship would remove the name Choral, he agreed instantly.

When I suggested that the fellowship would be shared with the David “Wagga” Hunt Foundation, (a joint scholarship program between Calabar High School and Kingston College-he became enthusiastic. When heard the words utmost for the Highest, his school motto as part of the title along with Fortis Cadere non Potest, the happiness abounded with joy in his voice. “ I loved that sentence with my school motto. I am happy”, he said.

Five minutes later, my phone pinged- a nice four figure donation arrived by Zelle to kick off the new name: The Spencer Family Fellowship. My brother’s last act of sharing his gift. So surreal.

Early Childhood:

Wayne’s attitude made everyone who came into contact with him a winner. The picture in my hand was taken by our second cousin around 1958. The pose of Wayne as my caretaker. The photo won Skip McDonald, Daddy’s cousin, a National award in photography.

As we progressed through our youth, I could rely on my brother to be there for me and every member of our family.

Mummy enrolled us into Avondale Prep school. Almost every day I would be get into some type of altercation with a student. When the fight started during the lunch break; I would confidently tease the person because I knew my big brother would be there to back me up. We never lost a fight. However, the headmistress was not happy with our conduct and mummy was called into a meeting. Mummy stood her ground for her two boys. At the end, the school was made to make an adjustment on its policy regarding students of color.

Throughout our lives, we were best friends. We each served an interchangeable role of support for each other. Following in his father’s footprints, Wayne went to Calabar High School in St Andrew Jamaica. He rode his bicycle to school each day, and from there developed his love for cycling. He loved to high jump also, however, by the end of his third year, he migrated to the USA.

Teenage to Adult Life

Both Wayne and I migrated to the USA as Orphan immigrants. Wayne was the first to migrate. Our parents remained in Jamaica, so we became reliant on our parents’ family and friends. It was tough. All decisions were made by relying on gut feelings. As a teenager, 15years old in 1968, without parents, no WhatsApp to call Jamaica, it was at best difficult.

I know he missed spending time with his parents, especially mummy in those crucial teenage years. His survival was encouraged and nurtured by Uncle Lloyd, Aunt Bibs, Judy and Arlene Omphroy who are here today. Without the protection, love and care from the entire Omphroy, Eccelsons, and Samuel families, I am unsure how Wayne would have survived in Brooklyn, NY.

Daddy’s friends had a boutique in Teaneck, NJ. Everyone felt it would be in Wayne’s best interest to go to high school in NJ. Daphne used her store address as Wayne’s residence. Thus the Jamaican term bandolier was put into place 100%.

Wayne graduated from Teaneck High the following year and began his college career at Brooklyn College the same year. I am saying it- he muscled himself through the shadows of death, however, he feared no evil. Psalm 23.

Young Adult:

Wayne loved riding a bicycle. Racing his bicycle for the joy of the challenges to overcome.

Racing down the hills of St. Andrew in Jamaica was nerve racking which led to many crashes as we navigated tight turns on the hilly narrow roads. Racing in Flushing Meadow Park in the summer of 1970.

Wayne had this knack of been kind, too kind, the knack was still ingrained in him till his last breath. Wayne would allow persons to be in front. So this particular day in Queens, he was coming second in all his races even after leading throughout each race. All the family and friends gathered around Wayne before the start of the final race, we each shared our observation.

Today I still remember that race as if it was an hour ago. Wayne raced with such renewed energy that he won the race going away. The family broke out in wild cheers. I could not locate the photograph from our home to share.

Wayne went on to qualify for the Olympic Games to represent Jamaica. He was unable to compete due to the JAAA in Jamaica said they did not have any budget for a cyclist. Daddy suggested he would pay even if he had to borrow the money. However, Wayne declined the offer, because he thought of family first.

Starting the security company Asguard was his dream. He put me to work as one of the guards in the early days as a startup company. I was happy to fly from NY to LA to ensure my big brother would succeed.

Las Vegas

Whenever I visited Wayne in Los Angeles over the decades, our playground became Hollywood and Las Vegas. One trip to Vegas I remember vividly. I blew the engine gasket drawing 2nd gear doing 120 miles per hour. Not much oil was left in the engine. Wayne carefully guided the car to the next exit to locate a gas station. Because of his aeronautical engineering degree, he calculated on the stop how many cartons of oil will be needed to get us back to Los Angeles. The calculation was so good that we went to Vegas, spent the evening then drove back to Los Angeles. Big brother was taking care of little brother.

Big Sexy Wayne.

His Business/Company

His guards loved him, they thought Wayne was their father. Each one that I personally spoke with talked with gratitude of what Wayne did for them. Wayne turned their lives around. Too many to list here. 1st Corinthians 13 v4: charity suffers long, and is kind, charity envied not.

His Family

He loved his parents, his brother and sister. From early in life he was our protector and he continued the same commitment to protect us as we all grew into adulthood. Always looking out for us. Wayne was like a machine in this endeavor. To the last days of his life he continued to look for ways to align his family to be one. His new love became Willie J. Willie J provided Wayne with a new step, a new urgency, a new direction to push to reinforce the family legacy of winners.

Uncle Wayne

Phillipa and Leighton are his niece and nephew. Any time there was an international track meet and Leighton was running in the race, Wayne would be there singing the Jamaica national anthem which roared throughout the stadiums in the Bahamas and Mexico. The crowd was in awe to Leighton’s embarrassment. I would join him as the chorus. Marriages he was there again to support his brother and sister when they took their vows.

Final Years

Happy with the bonding he achieved with Crystal. His constant wish was for her and her siblings to be involved with the firm. He spoke about his dream regularly with me. Around 2006, Wayne started venturing into the arena of singing. His inaugural solo was at Lyndhurst church. Thus, the name Big Sexy Wayne was born.

Final Days

During the last 8 days of his life on earth, he was at his happiest. Some his calls and texts to us were: one he shared how my sister thinks the world of you. He sent me a photo of his darling Challenger 3000 with the quote. “So what if it rains. I will ride with my sun roof open and umbrella in hand”. That was March 1st. Later that day he texted that he just inked a contract he’d been working on for a month. March 2nd. He said we just completed a tremendous business month.

We chatted two to three times a day.

On March 7, we talked about the finalizing of the sale of our parents’ home In Jamaica.

Then on March 12, in the morning we shared 12 texts between us… then silence overcame the rest of our communications.

At 9:00 pm EST I texted I am going to bed now, hoping he would stop what he was doing and call. At 10.07pm I texted, “where are you?”. Crystal called at 1:08 am. “Uncle Noel have your heard from my dad? His bed is made and his car is in the garage.” At that moment it started to creep into my brain that our partnership mighte over.

The Inglewood police officer called at 3:00am with the sad news.

I received so many calls from friends of Wayne when he passed. One caller told me in a text how distraught this lady was.

Many callers repeated a consistent theme. He brought joy to our lives. His wittiness, kindness, thoughts and concern for you was second to none.

Marsha Spencer received Wayne’s final text at approximately 9:40 on the morning of the 12th. His guitar teacher is the last person he spoke with on that day according to the messages I received.

You can view photos of Wayne throughout the years at:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13k1lXQTZJv4FkJErIpCPzRG_lNpCxFnr?usp=sharing

In the Arms of the Lord - Eternal Peace Be Your Glory

Top of Page