B.D. and Marcella Spence dedicated their hands to larger service to the benefit of 4-H youth across Tennessee. They were the kind of couple who lived the 4-H Pledge by example.

Those who knew the couple say it’s only fitting that their memories are kept alive with two endowments for Marshall and Maury county 4-H’ers honoring their service to the organization.

Contributing to Camp Scholarships

The B.D. and Marcella Spence Endowment provides scholarships for 4-H camps, including Pioneer Camp, Ag in the Classroom and other such events.

“We hope it continues their legacy of helping children pursue opportunities that allow them to become the best possible versions of themselves and contribute to their community,” say family members of the Spences.

“It would have been their wish that the fund could be used to support a variety of endeavors that allow children to learn new things and explore additional opportunities, including ones that traditional education funds may not allow, and for each to make a difference in their world,” family members continue.

Investing in Vocational Education

In a similar spirit, the B.D. and Marcella Spence Life Skills Endowment was established to recognize outstanding 4-H’ers who reflect the ideals and work ethics of the couple and who are pursuing post-secondary education at a vocational or trade school, for fields like electrical training, welding, nursing and more.

Education was important to them, especially for B.D., who eventually became a civil engineer after earning his GED. They went on to volunteer in their Adult Education program, helping many other neighbors in their community earn their GEDs as well.

“Without anyone knowing, they helped send others to college, nursing training and trade schools,” says a family member.

Making the Best Better

Just like the 4-H motto – to make the best better – their mission was to inspire youth to become better citizens who learned the value of helping others.

The couple made a reputation for themselves in Tennessee 4-H, serving as volunteer leaders for 42 years.

They enjoyed sharing their life experiences; in particular, they loved going to Pioneer Camp and seeing the excitement of children learning campfire cooking techniques or butter churning or other skills necessary in the “olden days.”

At the Tennessee State Fair every year, they set up camp and prepared meals for participants in 4-H competitions and shows, their families and anyone else who happened by.

They both even got school bus licenses to transport children to 4-H camps and functions.

Past and Future

The couple made just as much of an impact inviting children to events at their Marshall County farm with its rustic cabin.

“Their farm, which they had previously operated as a dairy farm, had long ago been dedicated to children of all ages, and it became a retreat for many children over the years,” says a close family member.

So many, in fact, the couple eventually stopped counting – but they welcomed children and groups from all over Tennessee.

The cabin at their farm had a wood-burning cook stove, windmill and old metal hand pump for pumping well water. They used newspaper to paper the walls of the cabin, as their predecessors would have done during the “old days,” and even the ceilings of the bedrooms were lined with comic strips.

A small log cabin named Spence Cabin was built on the grounds of the 4-H Camp in Maury County, where the couple could teach life skills to campers there.

How meaningful to them was their volunteer work with 4-H youth across Tennessee?

It was so meaningful that Marcella had a 4-H emblem engraved on B.D.’s headstone after his passing.

“I cannot even imagine what words would express the joy both of them would feel knowing that somehow, even after they’re gone, they can continue to help young people for years to come and to make a small difference in the life of even one young person,” says a close family member.

People who know the couple say the foundation of their lives was balanced on their faith, their family, their country and helping their neighbors.

“You can’t help but hope that heaven has a window so they can see the good they are continuing to accomplish,” the family member says.