“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch likeme. I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now Isee.”

On April 24, 2010, his eyes saw the beauty of heaven and he walkedthrough the pearly gates.

Jeffrey Gilbert Spence, 45, was born Dec 11, 1964, to Helen BeachSpence and Lynnvel Gene Spence. Born with congenital cataracts andglaucoma, Jeff learned to overcome his disabilities andaccomplished so many tasks while he was here with us. His firstthree years of elementary school were spent at the MississippiSchool for the Blind. At age 10, he became a part of the fifthgrade at Brookhaven Academy. He was determined to do all the thingsthe experts said he would never be able to: attended school withhis sisters, get his driver’s license and graduate from BrookhavenAcademy in 1983. God used Jeff’s life to bring laughter, hope andencouragement to those around him. Jeff was known for his sense ofhumor and his very giving, compassionate heart. He began his battlewith diabetes at age 21 and it was because of this illness he begankidney dialysis in 2007. He greeted each day with an unequivocalzest for life and continued to make the most of every day he wasgiven. Jeff came to know our loving Savior, Jesus Christ, throughthe trials that made his life so challenging.

Jeff was a member of Pearlhaven Baptist Church and Past Master ofBrookhaven Masonic Lodge No. 241 F & AM.

There were few things in life more important to Jeff than were themembers of his family.

In addition to his parents, Gene and Helen Spence, Jeff is survivedby his loving, devoted wife, Judy Diane Nevels Spence; hisstepsons, Eddie Warren, Sidney and Amanda Warren; his sisters andbrothers-in-laws, Jodie Spence Sartin and husband, Steve, BeckySpence McDowell and husband Tim; brother-in-law, Kenneth AllenHall; the nieces and nephews God gave him to love like his own,Brandon Hunter McDowell, Emily Kaylin McDowell, Brady Allen Hall,Kristen Mileah Hall and Robyn Elizabeth Sartin; his great-nephewand niece, Kyler Kent and Hayden Morgan McDowell; and threestepgrandchildren, Logan, Matthew and Madison.

He is preceded in death and escorted into heaven by his maternalgrandparents, Spurgeon and Myrtle Beach; and his paternalgrandparents, Coy G. and Corinna Spence.

Visitation will be held at Riverwood Family Funeral Service onMonday, April 26, 2010, from 5 until 9 p.m., and services will befrom Riverwood Family Funeral Service Chapel on Tuesday, April 27,2010, at 11 a.m.

To express your thoughts to the family, you may visitwww.riverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave acomment.