Maryland Levene Spencer, 82, of Forest, Virginia, went peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus on September 13, 2024. Born in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee on August 7, 1942 to Thomas McKnight and Frieda Quillen McKnight. Maryland spent most of her childhood near Detroit, Michigan. On December 7, 1963, she married the love of her life, Bruce G. Spencer, Jr., whom she met while attending Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Bruce and Maryland recently celebrated sixty years of marriage. He survives, along with their three sons, Bruce (Denise) Spencer III of Normal, Illinois, Steven (Rhonda) Spencer of Taylors, South Carolina, and Dennis (Michelle) Spencer of Forest, Virginia. Also surviving are Maryland’s siblings, Claude (Sharon) McKnight, Robert McKnight, JoAnne (Austin) Hoffman, all of Michigan; several dear nieces and nephews; along with Maryland’s ten grandchildren; four grands-in-law; and two great-grandchildren. Maryland is preceded in death by her parents; a sister and brother-in-law, Francis and Alvin Booth; two brothers, Dennis “Butch” McKnight and Thomas McKnight; and daughter-in-law, Karen Spencer. Along with raising her boys, Maryland owned a house cleaning business for many years and was always an active member of her local church. She especially enjoyed entertaining and baking for others, and gifted many loaves of her famous poppyseed bread, the recipe for which has been shared many times over. In recent years, she was wholly devoted to her pets, including her sweet kitties, Mocha Latte and Mr. Boots, but most of all, her tiny, beloved Chihuahua and constant companion, Willow. Friends and loved ones are invited to share in celebrating Maryland’s life and offer condolences at an informal drop-in gathering at the Spencer family home in Forest on Saturday, October 12, 2024 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Family members are invited to come early at 10 a.m. for a brief time of special remembrance and praise. Immediate family will gather for a private burial at a later date. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.