Dr. Barbara Jean Spencer Ayers

A STAR IS BORN

Dr. Barbara Jean Spencer Ayers, Ed.D., age 87, lived a full, vibrant, and happy life. Barbara was born on December 8, 1934, as the fourth of six siblings to the late Carthan Joseph Spencer and Lillie Pearl Spencer (nee:Smith) of Detroit, Michigan. She enjoyed her loving family, which included five brothers and sisters, Carthan Derle Spencer, Joyce Elaine Motley, Addis Patricia Lumpkin, Nancy Louise Spencer, and Ramon Spencer, all of whom preceded her in death.

Barbara was an educator, forensic scientist, singer, and strong woman of faith. From humble beginnings, raised in what was known as the “Black Bottom” in Detroit in the 1930’s, she excelled trough perseverance, sheer determination, and love guided from family, friends, faith, and books.  Accepting the Lord at an early age, she was baptised and was one of the youngest charter members of the New Calvary Baptist Church in Detroit, where she sang in the Young People’s and Adult Choir.

WORLD TOUR

Barbara graduated from the public schools of Detroit and then matriculated at Wayne State University, where she was active with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She graduated with honors receiving her bachelor’s degree with a teacher’s certification from Wayne State University in 1956. Discovering a love of science through Wayne State University, she took a grant to study the “living waters” of Bath in England. There, she was honored with another grant to study a new evolving field of science called forensics from the Academy of Sciences. With the influence of congressman Charles Diggs of Michigan, the United Nations sponsored her travel for five years to over 36 countries to introduce the discipline of forensics. It was also during this time that she further refined her singing skills as an operatic soprano while traveling through Europe. These global experiences and her love of music, cultures, ethics, faith, and dedication gave direction to her higher degrees: Master of Arts in Education from the University of Bridgeport (CT) and Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Fordham University in the Bronx, New York.  During her travels for the United Nations, she met and married her true love, Alphonso Wade Ayers, Sr., a US Army soldier who was a widower and father of five sons, Stephen, Ronald, Jay, John, and Alphonso, Jr. They were first married in Hamburg, Germany, and again upon their final return to the USA in Pleasantville, New Jersey, in 1967 in the presence of family. To this union would be born one son, Joseph Tracy Ayers.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK!

Moving to New York and settling in Mount Vernon, Barbara was a devoted wife, mother, and everyone’s favorite Auntie. She was an advocate for education in our family and an encourager to everyone to reach for their dreams. A devoted church member, Barbara served on several committees and sang in the choir at Bethesda Baptist Church in New Rochelle, New York.  New York also allowed Barbara to share her singing talents on a world-wide stage. She sang soprano as part of the chorus at the New York Metropolitan Opera for several productions. She also sang 1st soprano for the internationally acclaimed Carr-Hill Singers, with whom she performed in Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Martha’s Vineyard, and internationally in Spain, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Israel.  Professionally, Barbara would continue her pioneering ways. She taught forensics at Columbia University, School of Law, where she instructed many members of the NYPD Criminal Division as well as Columbia University, Teachers College, where she taught Critic Teachers and developed several curricula for Gifted and Talented youth education. One of the curricula for gifted youth was developed and later sold to Boston University and became the basis for the PBS series ZOOM in the 1970’s.  In Mount Vernon, amid parent protests, she broke the color line as the first Black teacher to integrate the faculty of Pennington Elementary School in the Mount Vernon Public School District in the mid-1960’s.  She taught 4th grade and served as a critic teacher for dozens of young teachers as they learned their craft.  She would later receive Teacher of the Year honors from that same district in 1978. She would also teach English as a second language, and 2nd, 4th, and 5th grades at Hamilton Elementary School. Barbara served her fellow teachers with the Mount Vernon Federation of Teachers as a union representative for Pennington, Hamilton, and Lincoln Elementary Schools. An advocate and supporter of the arts, particularly for youth, Barbara assisted with many of the theatrical and musical productions in the city. During one of the musical productions at Mount Vernon High School, directed by Doc Randall, Barbara was introduced to actors Billy Crystal and Jack Palance, and director Ron Underwood who were making the Hollywood movie “City Slickers.” The director, inspired by Barbara’s costume work in the high school production, used several of her ideas and listed her as a costume supervisor in the film’s credits.

RETURNING TO THE STAGE

After 30+ distinguished years as an educator, Barbara retired in 1996 and moved back to Detroit, where she was instrumental in assisting with the care of her mother and eldest brother.  Barbara enjoyed being back in Detroit among her mom, brothers, sisters, and the extended Spencer family and childhood friends. She immersed herself back into the activities of New Calvary Baptist Church, where she served in the Adult Choir, Mission Department, Optimist Club, and as Women’s Day Chairwoman and Pastor’s Anniversary Chairwoman. For her service to the church, she was honored with the Helen Oden Butler Sisterhood Award.  Her passion for youth and community service further extended to her work with the Optimist Club of Central Detroit, where she served as president from 2001-2002.  Barbara received the F.B.I Outstanding Youth Service Award, Mayoral Certificate of Recognition from the City of Detroit, Optimist Club Outstanding Service Award, and Optimist of the Year for her youth advocacy and work with the Detroit deaf community.

After the passing of her mother, Barbara decided to move to Ohio to be closer to her sons and their families. Barbara so enjoyed the many family gatherings and talks, and watching the success of her sons, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She spent much of her spare time writing and recording the family histories of the Smith, Spencer, and Ayers families from the many photo albums she collected over the years. She found a new church home at Rhema Christina Center, where she served on the Scholarship and Women’s Day committees.  She joined the Senior Center of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and enjoyed many of it’s programs and events, especially the Golden Clef Chorus, where she served as the activity and musical director and on the annual fashion show, where she showcased her beautiful jewelry and stylish outfits.  She would visit nursing homes in advance to prepare for the Golden Clef performance, and picked out the sheet music for the members. She was also a faithful member of the Senior Exercise Class and still has the VCR tape for at home routines! Barbara was a strong advocate of active senior living and an ambassador of joy and cheer on behalf of the Reynoldsburg Senior Center.  Loving music, she also joined the Harmony Project of 500 singers, under the direction of David Brown. As an early contributing member, pledging funds and active soprano, she also helped and encouraged others who were challenged mentally and physically to use the world of music to make friends and participate with joy and thanksgiving. While she loved the music, she enjoyed the volunteering and community

service the most. She would even hang out with the “young folks” after practices.  Barbara made many great friends in Columbus and chief among them were her lunch crew, affectionally called the “Golden Girls” with Mrs. Dorothy Cobb and Mrs. Sondra Ross. Together, they lunched and leisured all across the city. Their standing Friday outings were legendary, and they filled Barbara with such joy and anticipation of the next gathering. When Joseph fell in love with W. Shawna Gibbs, Barbara welcomed her as a daughter-in-love, and the two spent years together enjoying their joint interests in education, politics, pedicures, and thrift-shopping. Barbara, Joseph, and Shawna loved their regular Sunday brunches, recapping sermons from Faith Ministries Church and Rhema Christian Center, watching Barbara perform in her many choir appearances, and showing up to support family and friends.

THE FINALE

Barbara transitioned to be with the Lord on August 5, 2022, after a short battle with Covid-19. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alphonso Wade Ayers, Sr., and son, Jay William Ayers.  She leaves to cherish her memory: her sons, Joseph and special daughter-in-love, W. Shawna Gibbs, Stephen Ayers, Sr., and Ronald (Cordia “Toni”) Ayers, all of Columbus, Ohio, John (LaGretta) Ayers of Lansing, Michigan, and Alphonso Wade Ayers, Jr., of West Haven, Connecticut; ten grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Maxine Spencer of Detroit, Michigan; and a large host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many more family and friends.  Dr. Barbara Spencer Ayers would want you to remember her by volunteering, giving, singing, and spreading joy wherever you go.

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