Jerry Dean Spencer passed away May 13, 2026 of cancer in Savannah, Georgia.  He was born in Dimmitt, Texas to Earl and Pauline Andrew Spencer on April 24, 1938.  He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Nora Sue Wise Spencer; daughter Jennifer Pankey (Doug) and granddaughters Ashley and Anna Claire Pankey of Savannah;  son Christopher Spencer (Caroline) and grandsons Wesley and Charles Spencer of Savannah; and sister Jeanne Gertsch of Cheyenne, Wyoming.  He is also survived by nieces and nephews in Texas and Colorado.  He is predeceased by his father, mother and stepfather, Truman C. Armor, and stepsister Dale Armor Ellis.

Jerry received his Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University in 1962 and Master of Landscape Architecture from Harvard University School of Design in 1964.  The American Society of Landscape Architects awarded him the Certificate of Merit for Excellence in the study of Landscape Architecture at LSU in 1962.

Jerry's career in Landscape Architecture began in Watertown, Massachusetts at Sasaki, Dawson and DeMay where he worked on teams which designed masterplans for urban parks, universities, urban streetscapes, new urban centers, parkways, etc.  He joined the Boston Redevelopment Authority designing urban parks for the City of Boston.  After seven years in the Boston area, Jerry accepted a job with the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission where he was involved in downtown revitalization and historic preservation.  He also worked for Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head and then became a partner in the firm of Lominack Jewett Spencer Architects & Landscape Architects in Savannah.  While in private practice, Jerry provided consultant and design services to the City of Savannah for upgrading the 30 acre historic Forsyth Park.  He ended his career with 21 years at the Sea Island Company providing landscape designs for many homes and began working on City of Brunswick Newcastle Street Streetscape improvements which then led after retirement to pro bono designs for the city's squares and Oak Grove Cemetery.

While in Savannah he was on the boards of Historic Savannah Foundation and the Savannah Landmark Rehabilitation Project.  In 1973, the Historic Savannah Foundation presented him an award "for his invaluable counsel and encouragement as a professional consultant and his dedication to high principles for maintaining a quality urban environment for the Historic District".  In Brunswick he was on the Oak Grove Cemetery Society Board, the Brunswick Historic Preservation Board and a founding member of Signature Squares of Brunswick.

In Savannah he was an active member, deacon and children's Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church. He was also a member, deacon and elder at St. Simons Presbyterian Church on St. Simons Island.  A memorial service will be held at St. Simons Presbyterian Church, 205 Kings Way, St. Simons Island on June 13, 2026 at 2:00 pm with a reception to follow in the social hall.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given in his memory to Signature Squares of Brunswick at https://www.signaturesquares.org/contribute#Donations or P.O. Box 846 Brunswick, GA 31521, or Oak Grove Cemetery Society at OGCS, P.O. Box 3029, Brunswick, GA 31521-3029.