Edna Ansell Spence, 95, of Bryantown died on March 10, 2012. Born on February 22, 1917 in Buzzards Neck, Princess Anne County, Virginia, she was the eldest child of Arthur Beale and Laura Whitehurst Ansell. She was raised on a farm, and graduated from Creeds School as valedictorian of her class.

She married the late Wilbert Lenton Spence and they lived together on their farm in Back Bay, Virginia Beach, Virginia. In addition to working on the farm, she worked for her brother Curtis Ansell, the owner of Ansell's Market, from 1962 until she retired as a butcher in 1999 at the age of 83. Ansell's Market was a landmark in Back Bay and the sausage that Edna made was so famous that the officers' cook from aircraft carriers would come in to buy sausage for the officers' breakfast whenever they came into port in Norfolk. After retiring, she moved to Bryantown, Maryland and lived with her son, Alan Spence and his wife Gail Hastings Spence. Locally, she was active in Hughesville Baptist Church.

She is survived by her brother, Curtis James Ansell of Virginia Beach, her son R. Alan Spence and his wife, Gail, their daughter Shannon Spence Weimert, her husband Brian, and her great grandson, Brady Thomas Weimert. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbert, and her brother, Melvin Arthur Ansell.

A celebration of life service will be held at her home church in Virginia Beach at a later date. Her family wishes to thank the caregivers at Charles County Nursing Home for the tender care they provided her during her stay.

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield Funeral Home.