Southwestern’s Raymond Spencer dies

FORT WORTH, Texas — Raymond Bernard Spencer, assistant professor of preaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, died unexpectedly at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 10.

Spencer, 38, was the seminary’s first full-time African American faculty member, known among fellow faculty members for his congenial spirit and humility. He died from natural causes, but the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office has not made public the exact cause of death.

A memorial service was held at the seminary Jan. 14. The funeral was held at New Rising Star Baptist Church in Fort Worth, where Spencer was assistant pastor.

Born in Houston, Spencer attended Oklahoma Christian University, where he received a bachelor of science in 1989. He received a master of divinity from Southwestern Seminary in 1993 and then completed a Ph.D. at the seminary. Spencer was elected to the faculty at Southwestern in 1998 while still a doctoral student.