Phyllis Spence-Briscoe

A child of God has entered into his presence. Battles were fought and the ultimate victory was won. On Friday evening, September 23, 2022, the heavenly gates opened to our beloved Phyllis Spence Briscoe and she was welcomed home.

She was born in Chesapeake, Va. on February 04, 1954, to the late Columbus and Amy Spence. There she grew up in a home where she attended Gabriel Chapel A.M.E. Zion church at an early age and which she made a profession of faith in Christ. This would lead her to teach Sunday school and learn scriptures from the Bible.

She was predeceased by her sister Arizona Nevada Spence.

Phyllis was the first woman of color to attend and graduate from Great Bridge High School in 1972. She went on to attend Norfolk State University for two years. After that, she was employed with Norfolk Naval Base as a Budget Analyst where she worked under several divisions such as NARDAQ, NCTANSLANT, and SPAWAR, which she retired from in 2005. She became a member of New Weeping Mary Missionary Baptist Church in 2005 under Pastor John C. Smith where she was the church secretary for a while.

As a young child with three older sisters, she thought of herself as the boss of them. Phyllis was very witty and loved to be in charge. During her spare time she loved to decorate, especially for Christmas which was her and her daughter’s favorite time of the year. She also loved watching her soap operas or as she called them, “her stories”. She loved spending time with her pride and joy, her Grandson especially their trips to the mountains. Phyllis loved her family a great deal. She had a special attachment to her nieces, great nieces and great nephews to the very end.

Phyllis leaves to cherish her memory, her beloved daughter Yevette Spence-Ford and son-in-law Clarence Brown; her grandson Joshua Thomas Pryor; her sisters, Carolyn Wilson, Gloria Craig (Eugene); four nieces Tracy Gonzalez (Jose), Sheree’ Craig, Tennille Craig; two great nieces, Kiaria Craig, Jada Haynes; two great nephews, De’Qwuann Jordan and Xavion Rodgers; her best friend for over forty years, Patricia Sykes, and a host of relatives and friends.

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