Mitchell County Georgia Obituaries Col. Robert E. L. Spence 1934 ****************************************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ****************************************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sam Luckey Oct 2002 Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/mitchell.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Obituary of Robert E. L. Spence as written in "The Camilla Enterprise" dated 7 Dec 1934. Camilla, Georgia. Col. R. E. L. Spence, widely known South Georgian, died at his home in Albany last Friday, 30 Nov 1934, evening at 8:30 PM after a short illness. The news of his death came as a great shock to many friends, especially in this county, who did not know of the seriousness of his condition. He had been in an automobile accident a week or so before in which he received a slight injury. Pneumonia developed from this and he rapidly grew worse until the end Friday night. Col. Spence was a native of Mitchell County, the son of the late Hiram Warner Spence of this county, and a member of a prominent South Georgia family. Born on a farm in the southwestern part of this county sixty two years ago he made the best of the educational advantages offered here and was able to pass the entrance examination to West Point Military Academy when he received the appointment in 1889. Graduating in 1893, he saw service for several years at Western posts before the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898. His regiment was among the first regular army units sent to Cuba and took part in the important battles which marked the occupancy of Cuban territory by the American Forces. Col. Spence distinguished himself in this fighting and was wounded in one of the engagements. Soon afterward he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Third Georgia Regiment of Volunteers. He served with this unit for the period of the war and was sent to the Philippines as a Major of United States Volunteers and was with the American Forces in the Far East for several years. Soon after returning to this country he was retired with the rank of Major. When this country entered the World War, Colonel Spence asked for an assignment to active duty, being finally assigned to the Fifth Infantry with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He service overseas with the Army of Occupation and was on the active list until 1920, when he was again retired with the rank he had held in service. As a soldier he was highly regarded by those with whom he served and had many friends of every rank in the army. While residing in Baker County Colonel Spence served one term in the State Senate from the Tenth District. This was the only political office he ever asked for. Later he moved to Albany where he made his home until his death. He had considerable farming interests and identified himself with every movement looking to the improvement of farming conditions in this section. Col. Spence was a member of Camp William E. Wooten No. 20, Spanish War Veterans and Albany Post No. 30, American Legion and was active in these organizations. He was first married to Miss Bruce Underwood, a daughter of the late Rev. J. L. Underwood of this county, who died a number of years ago. One son, R. E. L. Spence, Jr., of this first marriage survives. He is also survived by his wife of a later marriage, a grandson, Bobby Spence; a brother, W. C. Spence of Albany and a sister, Mrs. E. T. Fitzgerald of Camilla. Funeral services were held at the residence in Albany Sunday, 2 Dec 1934, afternoon conducted by Dr. W. Raleigh White of the First Baptist Church of Albany, assisted by Rev J. N. Peacock of the First Methodist Church. This service was attended by a large number of sorrowing friends. Following the services in Albany the body was taken to Washington, D. C., for interment in Arlington National Cemetery.