A Life of Service, Leadership & Community Impact

Dr. Eugene Spencer, Jr.: A Life of Service, Leadership, and Community Impact

Dr. Eugene Spencer, Jr. stands among the most respected pioneers in Sacramento's African American community. As one of the city's first African American dentists, he devoted his professional life to improving the health and well-being of countless patients while simultaneously serving as a tireless advocate for civil rights, economic opportunity, and community advancement.

The Beginning

Born in Port Gibson, Mississippi, Dr. Spencer pursued higher education at Alcorn State University and then on to the historic Howard University School of Dentistry, graduating during one of the most transformative periods in American history. As a young man, he witnessed and participated in the Civil Rights Movement firsthand. In 1963, while living in Washington, D.C., he attended the historic March on Washington and heard Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his immortal "I Have a Dream" speech. He also knew civil rights leader Medgar Evers and his wife, Myrlie, whose commitment to justice left a lasting impression on him.

Dr. Spencer, then an Air Force Officer, and his wife, Maude “Lu” W. Spencer, drove from Washington, D.C. to Sacramento. Like many African Americans of that era, they encountered racial barriers, including discrimination, on the base, in housing, and various other incidents in their young married life. Rather than allowing those obstacles to discourage him, Dr. Spencer committed himself to transformational change and helping create a more equitable Sacramento.

As a dentist, he earned a reputation for professionalism, compassion, and excellence. His dental practice served generations of families, and his success opened doors for future African American professionals in the region. Beyond dentistry, he became deeply involved in civic leadership and community development.

A Life of Service

Dr. Spencer was a founding leader of the Sacramento Urban League, which was established in 1968 to advance economic empowerment, workforce development, educational access, and support for underserved communities. In 1976, he chartered the Epsilon Xi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated in Sacramento, California, and served as its first Grand Basileus, providing principled and visionary leadership. He was a charter member of the Gamma Epsilon Boule of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc., a professional organization focused on strengthening the community through leadership and philanthropy, also in Sacramento, CA.

In addition, Dr. Spencer served on the Local Equity Board supporting Sacramento State University, helping promote educational equity and opportunity for future generations. Throughout his life, he remained a steadfast advocate for equality, youth development, and community engagement, leaving a lasting impact on the organizations he helped build and the communities he served.

Lastly, Dr. Spencer was a founding member and first president of the Sacramento Chapter of the National Dental Association.

Friends and colleagues have long recognized him as a trailblazer, philanthropist, mentor, and bridge-builder. His life reflects a commitment not only to professional achievement but also to service above self. Through his leadership, he aimed to make Sacramento a more inclusive and opportunity-rich community for generations to come.

In His Own Words

One of Dr. Spencer’s greatest accomplishments was becoming a published author. His book is entitled “Mississippi Born, California Bound: How Jim Crow and Racism Lost to a Family Legacy”. His autobiography documents his family's history, his fight against racism, and his life journey.

His Love of Family

Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Spencer was a deeply devoted family man. He cherished his wife and children, working tirelessly to ensure they were always well provided for. He passed his strong foundational values on to his children, inspiring them to embrace education, hard work, acceptance, community service, social justice, and dedication to serving others.

Dr. Eugene Spencer, Jr.'s legacy lives on in his wife beloved Maude “Lu” W. Spencer and his four children, Dr. Gena Spencer-Middleton (Dr. Glenn A. Middleton), Brian Spencer (wife, Janet Castellanos Spencer and grandson Brian Alejandro Spencer-Castellanos), Dr. Arika Spencer-Brown (husband, Robert M. Brown and grandson Harrison Eugene Brown), Jennifer Spencer Duncan (Darren Duncan), a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, the patients he cared for, the organizations he helped build, the leaders he inspired, friends he developed and cherished, and the community he helped strengthen.

His parents and siblings preceded him at sunset. Rev. Eugene Spencer and Mrs. Pauline Spencer, his younger brothers Harold Spencer and Delano Spencer, and his younger sisters Rosia Spencer and Doris Spencer Anthony. They are now all together fellowshipping.

His Legacy Will Live On

His story is one of courage, perseverance, dignity, and unwavering dedication to the pursuit of an education, justice, and opportunity for all. May his contributions continue to inspire future generations to lead, serve, and uplift others.

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