W.T. Shumake & Daughters

April 8, 1956 - February 24, 2026

Roy Cornell Spencer, 69, of Louisville, transitioned on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

Visitation 11-12 Saturday, March 7, 2026 at W.T. Shumake & Daughters Funeral Home 3815 Newburg Road. Memorial Service will follow at 12 noon.

Roy Cornell Spencer was born April 8, 1956 to parents, Anderson Spencer and Catherine Irvin Spencer, in Shelbyville, Kentucky.

He was raised by a strong Christian mother, who instilled faith in him at an early age. Although he was not affiliated with a church in his adult years, the foundation that his mother laid stayed with him in quiet but meaningful ways. He was a proud Kentucky man through and through, who was rooted in faith, family, music and neighborhood life.

Roy never married nor did he have any children of his own, but family was always his heart. If you were a blood relative, bonded and connected by love, or simply part of the neighborhood circle, Roy considered you his people.

For many years, Roy worked as a dedicated sanitation crew member at several well- known nightspots in the Newburg area, including the Elks, Balitores, and JB's Hole in the Wall. During the day, he kept busy mowing lawns, and collecting cans around the neighborhood. He was a familiar and steady presence to everyone who knew the streets he walked.

Roy believed in working hard, staying independent, and minding his own business, unless you were messing with someone he loved. If you messed with someone he loved and cared for, and he happened to find out, you would see the other side of his personality. Ordinarily, he was a gentle giant with a protective streak that ran deep.

Roy will always be remembered for his sarcasm, undeniable charm, and the confidence of a man who truly believed that all the ladies wanted him, and he wasn’t about to let anyone convince him otherwise.
His taste in music was as eclectic as his personality. He could be found jamming to James Brown one moment, vibing to Stevie Wonder the next, and then switching it up with Johnny Cash, without missing a beat. If the music was playing, Roy's feet were tapping. And when he wasn’t lost in a good song, he was laid back watching his beloved cowboys on TV, and enjoying the simple pleasures of a quiet day. Roy Cornell Spencer lived life on his own terms - steady, proud, humorous, and fiercely loyal. He leaves behind memories filled with music, laughter, neighborhood stories, and a reminder to always stand up for the people you love.

Sadly, on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Roy Cornell Spencer departed this life on earth. He leaves to cherish his memories his siblings, Beverly "Nessie" Tinsley, Genoria "Dodie" Jefferies, Ricky Spencer, and Melissa Allen; along with a host of nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends, who will forever remember his jokes, his wisdom, and his larger than life presence.