Home of Winnie Spencer (Site)

These coordinates mark the exact spot where the home once stood until it was torn down circa 2000 to make way for a new office park development. No visible remains exist.


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Here follows an excerpt from the Spring 2008 edition of the "Franconia Legacies" newsletter published by the Franconia Museum:

Winnie Beatrice Walker Spencer - A Celebration Of Life
March 22, 1908 - February 29, 2008

On Saturday, March 22, 2003 over 100 relatives, friends, former students and caregivers gathered at the Springfield Hilton to celebrate Winnie Walker Spencer’s 100th Birthday. Winnie was not present for the milestone event, she unfortunately passed away this past February 29th. Jac Walker spoke at the celebration and credited Winnie as the inspiration for writing the family stories recorded in the three “Franconia Remembers” books. Winnie told Jac to “Write it down”, and Jac has recorded many stories that would otherwise be lost to history. The Franconia Museum Board of Directors sincerely thanks Winnie for “getting the ball rolling.” The work goes on, “Franconia Remembers Volume IV” will be published this coming fall. Winnie’s story is presented here, it represents a success story all Franconians can appreciate.
— Jim Cox
For the Board

Winnie Walker Spencer, the daughter of the late Maurice and Georgianna Walker, was born in Franconia, Virginia March 22, 1908. She was the fourth of five children. She grew up on her parent’s thirteen acre farm that had been inherited from her grandparents William and Georgianna Jasper. She attended Laurel Grove Colored School from first thru seventh grade. Her grandparents, William and Georgianna Jasper were freed slaves who deeded one half acre of their land to the Mt. Vernon School district in 1881. They along with their neighbors built the Laurel Grove Colored School, a one-room school so that African Americans in Franconia could be educated. In 1884, The Jasper’s deeded one half acre of land to the Trustees of the Laurel Grove Baptist Church.

Winnie’s parents and grandparents stressed the importance of getting an education to be successful in life. Getting that education was no easy task. She had a short walk to Laurel Grove School for grades one to seven. She had to take the train from Franconia to Washington, D.C. to attend Armstrong High School. She could not let her friends at school know that she did not live in the city. She walked from the train station to school everyday. From High School she went to St. Paul’s Normal School, Lawrenceville, Virginia. Then during the summers she went to Virginia State College in Petersburg, Virginia where she earned a B.A. teaching degree. Winnie was 42 years old when she received this degree. She later received her Master’s Degree from New York University.

Winnie taught for almost 40 years in elementary schools in Fairfax County and Prince William County. She taught at Woodlawn Colored School on Ft. Belvoir, and at schools in Dumfries, Gum Springs, Vienna, and Bailey’s Cross Roads. She taught in segregated schools during her entire career. In early years, in two room schools with potbelly stoves, she and her students made the fire and often cooked soup or stew for lunch. She and her students endured many hardships. These included second hand books, little or no transportation for “colored” students and little county support for the schools. Parents and teachers provided what was needed so that students could receive a proper education. Winnie visited student’s homes and helped parents fill out administrative forms and other documents required by the County. She had classroom visits by Superintendent W.T. Woodson and Supervisor Emma Moore to oversee her work.

She was a dedicated teacher and wanted the best for not only her students, but their parents as well. Many of her students stayed in contact with her even after they became adults with successful careers.

Winnie was married to Thomas R. Spencer, from Falls Church, Virginia and they lived in Washington, DC. Tom was the “love of her life”. They enjoyed entertaining family and friends, and always had a smile and a laugh, and even a joke or two for all. Tom and Winnie’s brother Dumont worked at Arlington National Cemetery. In May 1955, Tom died while “on the job” at Arlington. He was a World War I veteran entitled to burial at Arlington. Dumont worked with cemetery officials to choose the burial site in section 23, with a view of the Amphitheater and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

After Tom’s death, Winnie decided to come home to Franconia. She contacted Arthur Nalls, a Franconia Home Builder, and gave him a design for her new home. During the building process, she only showed up at inspection times. This was “her dream house, her design”. She had many family dinners, picnics and wonderful fellowships at 6300 Walker Lane. Friends and family enjoyed the gatherings, good food, fun, and laughter.

Winnie was a member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 4th and D Streets SE, Washington, DC. Her Brother Van Dyke and his wife Dorothy were also members of Ebenezer. She was a very active member, singing in the choir, participating in Women’s Day programs, Bible Study and many other activities. She only gave it up when she could no longer drive herself into DC. She remained a member of Ebenezer, attending when she could, but became a regular at Laurel Grove Baptist Church. She could walk to Laurel Grove from her house.

For many years Winnie was called on to be the “Women’s Day“ speaker at churches throughout Northern Virginia. She always encouraged listeners to “trust and obey God”.

All of her life, Winnie encouraged young people to “get an education”. If she could help them in any way, she was happy to do so. She was not a shy person, to know her was to accept that she was going to tell you what she thought. She shared her stories of growing up in Franconia, and although there were hard times, they didn’t seem hard because of the love and friendships shared with family and neighbors. She leaves us her passion for staying connected to family, following God’s word and getting wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

She is survived by her niece, Phyllis Walker Ford and her husband Clifton, her nephew, Van Dyke Walker Jr. and wife Beatrice, great nephews, Vandyke Walker III, Matthew Ford, Dumont Walker III; great-great nephew Van Dyke IV and great-great niece Cydne.