I am a proud graduate of The William Henry Spencer High School in Columbus, Georgia.
Spencer High School is named for William Henry Spencer, the first superintendent of black public schools in Columbus, Georgia. My parents, my uncle, my aunt, and my brother are also graduates of Spencer High School.
Dr. Spencer was born in 25 September 1857 to Henry and Lydia Roberts Spencer.
He attended Asbury Chapel, a school for Afro-Americans in Columbus, Georgia. He received his teaching certificate in 1875.
He taught at Claflin School, a school for Afro-Americans established by the Freedmen’s Bureau in 1868. By 1880, he was the principal of Claflin School.
The Afro-American citizens of Columbus petitioned the School Board to increase the grades in their schools to the 9th grade and establish a high school. Students had to go to school outside of Columbus to go beyond the 9th grade. In addition to Claflin, there was Sixth Avenue, Fourth Street and 28th Street schools. Spencer attended Clark College in Atlanta, GA, to further his education. He was named Supervisor of Colored Schools.
Spencer continued the push for an accredited high school for Afro-Americans in Columbus, GA. Although the Board added one more grade, capping the education for Afro-Americans in Columbus at 10th grade and promised that as funds became available, a high school would be built. This was not satisfactory and the fight continued.
Dr. Spencer passed away suddenly from appendicitis on 30 May 1925.
The Board did honor their promise and in 1930, the first accredited high school for Afro-Americans was opened on 10th Avenue and was named for Dr. Spencer.
The school was moved to Sheppard Drive. This is the location my mother, father and uncle attended.
A new school was built on the edge of Ft. Benning in the mid 70s. The intent was to close Spencer and relocate the students from nearby Baker High School to this new school. The alumni of Spencer stood firm and argued for the non-closure of such a historic school. The Spencer alums won and Spencer #3 was born. My aunt, my brother and myself graduated from this location.
Spencer #3 was torn down and a new Spencer now stands on Cusseta Road in Columbus, GA.
Spencer maintains an active alumni association and presence still to this day in Columbus.
