H. Spencer Barrow, Esquire, beloved son, brother, husband, father, friend, employer and counselor, crossed over the bar the evening of Saturday November 1, 2008.
His sudden passing has left a void in the lives of his family and in the lives of his legion of friends from all walks of life who loved him so dearly for his kindness, great spirit, sincerity and genuine affection for all persons privileged to know him.
Spencer was born April 16, 1945 to John Knox Barrow, Jr. and Marjorie Whitaker Barrow, former long-time residents of Augusta. He spent his formative years in Ahoskie, North Carolina where he excelled in athletics, particularly football. He graduated from Ahoskie High School as an All American football player who was highly recruited and received a football scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He suffered a career ending injury in his freshman year at the University of North Carolina. Thereafter, he focused on academics and graduated in June of 1967 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor Degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law in 1970. Upon his graduation from law school he was honored with a clerkship with the Supreme Court of North Carolina and served from 1970 to 1971 as a Law Clerk to Justice Carlisle W. Higgins. From 1971 until his untimely death he engaged in the private practice of law in Raleigh, concentrating in the areas of civil and criminal litigation with an emphasis in banking litigation. He was quite simply a superb lawyer and consummate gentleman. His distinctly human touch combined with his gentle manner embodied the finest traditions of the legal profession.
At the time of his death, Spencer was serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Gateway Bank and Trust. He formerly served as President of Prevent Blindness North Carolina and as a member of the North Carolina delegation to the national organization of Prevent Blindness. He was also a member of numerous other civic and social organizations in Raleigh.
Spencer is survived by his wife, Lynn (Cande) Sneddon Barrow; his sons, Hunter Christopher Barrow and Byron Spencer Barrow, both of Atlanta, Georgia and Samuel Lane Barrow of Raleigh; a stepson, Adam Johnston Fletcher of Raleigh and his stepdaughter, Dade Doudel Fletcher of Perth, Australia. His grandchildren are, Hannah Lane Barrow of Atlanta, Georgia, Camryn Elizabeth Fletcher of Raleigh, Zoe Madeleine Fletcher- Lawn and Alexander Fletcher-Lawn of Perth, Australia. He is survived by his mother, Marjorie Whitaker Barrow of Raleigh, and his brother, John Knox Barrow, III of Basking Ridge, New Jersey.
The visitation for Spencer was held at the Jane Bell Gathering Space of White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Road, Raleigh on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. His memorial service will be held at the church on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 1:00 PM with a visitation thereafter.
Memorials in Spencer’s memory may be sent to Prevent Blindness North Carolina, 4011 Westchase Boulevard, Raleigh, NC 27607, the Blowing Rock Historical Society, Post Office Box 804, Blowing Rock, NC 28605 or to the charity of one’s choice.