Helen Caruthers Spence married Dr. Leslie Mackenzie in 1892 to become Mrs Leslie Mackenzie (later Lady upon her husband's knighthood in 1919). Lady Leslie Mackenzie was a one of the founding committee members on Edinburgh School of Social Study and Training and throughout her life showed a strong commitments to education, public health and women's campaigns and issues. Mrs MacKenzie and her husband moved to Edinburgh in 1894 after her husband was appointed Chief Medical Officer for Leith (he later became Chief Medical Officer for Scotland). She immediately became involved in the social and political life of the city acting as the Honorary Secretary of the Edinburgh and District branch of the Women's Emanciaption Union in 1895 and was part of the Suffrage movement in Edinburgh alongside Flora and Louisa Stevenson, Mary Burton and Jessie Methven. In addition to being part of the Provisional Committee for the School of Social Study and Training she had a long involvement with the Edinburgh College of Domestic Science. She served as President of the National Association of Health Visitors, Women Sanitary Inspectors and School Nurses as well as being a Member of the Departmental Committee for the review of public health services in Scotland. She went on to be one of the founders of the Edinburgh Women Citizens' Association in 1918, and continued to be active in social and political work up until her death.

Source: The Scotsman, 30 July 1930.