Doris M. (Spencer) Anthony's Obituary
In Loving Memory of Doris Marie Spencer Anthony
March 11, 1939 – September 5, 2025
Doris Marie Spencer Anthony, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, professor, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 86.
Born in Mississippi to Reverend E.E. and Pauline Spencer, Doris was raised in a home built on faith, service, and music. She graduated from Alcorn A&M University in 1960 with a degree in Business Education. While at Alcorn, she joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, in 1958 and remained a proud lifetime member, living out the values of scholarship, service, and sisterhood throughout her life.
Doris’ love of education defined her journey. She taught at the elementary, high school, and college levels, inspiring generations of students with her passion for learning. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Business Education from New York University, followed by a Master of Science in Education, Administration & Supervision from Pace University. She later became a respected professor of Business Communications at Concordia College, where her students remember her not only for her teaching but for the encouragement and confidence she instilled in them.
Her professional career also included her time in Chicago at Johnson Publishing, where she served as Mr. Johnson’s personal assistant and a copy editor for Ebony/Jet Magazine. There, she met her future husband, John Ashton Anthony, who worked in IT at the company. Their marriage was a partnership of love, laughter, and devotion that lasted a lifetime. Together, they raised four children—Lisa, Aurora, Kontji, and Johnita—in New Rochelle, New York, creating a home filled with resilience and music.
Doris played the organ at her family church, filling every space with song throughout her life. She placed instruments in her children’s hands—from piano to violin—and encouraged them to embrace the gift of music. Whether she was listening to pop or gospel, Doris loved to dance and believed music was both a celebration and a source of comfort.
In retirement, Doris and John settled in Fayetteville, Georgia, near Atlanta. She remained deeply engaged in her community, always lending her voice to neighborhood organizations, and she continued serving with her sorority as an example of strength, leadership, and compassion. Doris and John later moved to Memphis in 2016, where she took her last breath.
Above all, Doris cherished her family. She adored being “Nana” to Brandon, Ashton, Lauren, Gabriel, Miles, Elena, and Devon, delighting in their laughter and accomplishments. Her legacy of love, education, and music will live on through them and through all the lives she touched.
Doris was preceded in death by her devoted husband, John Ashton Anthony, and her parents, Reverend E.E. and Pauline Spencer. She leaves to celebrate her memory her children, grandchildren, her brother Dr. Eugene Spencer, nieces, nephews, sorority sisters, and a wide circle of relatives, colleagues, students, and friends.
She will be remembered for her brilliance as an educator, her devotion to family, her joy in music and dance, and her unwavering strength. Doris’ light continues to shine in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.
To watch the service live, please click the following link: https://www.hdezwebcast.com/show/doris-anthony
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