Mr. Willie Speight Jr.

On Friday, May 1, 2020, Willie Speight Jr., devoted husband, and father

of four children, passed away at age 91. After several months of declining

health, Willie peacefully died in the comfort of his home surrounded by

family in East Cleveland, OH. Willie was born on September 28, 1928 in

Panola, Alabama to Willie Speight Sr. and Geraldine Bushell-Speight.

Willie Speight Jr. was in the US Army in the 1950s. He proudly served in

the Armor Branch for two years, before transferring to the Army Reserve in

1954. Sergeant Willie Speight Jr. was Honorably Discharged on November

22, 1956.

Willie and Dolores Mae Bryant were joined in holy matrimony on April

28, 1951. To this union, three children were born: Vanessa Marie Speight,

Willie Speight III and Brenda Ann Speight.

On February 13, 1955, Willie confessed Jesus Christ as his personal Lord

and Savior and received full membership to Second Mount Sinai Baptist

Church in Cleveland, OH (renamed Mount Sinai-Friendship, United)

where he was a faithful member and served on the Senior Usher Board.

Willie held several jobs during his young adult years, before accepting a

position with General Aluminum, where he worked tirelessly over the

next 40 years as a top-preforming Molder. After seven more years of loyal

service, Willie would retire from Ohio Aluminum.

Bowling was a favorite pastime Willie enjoyed with his entire family. Many

fond memories were shared on the bowling lanes, as the family competed

among themselves.

Willie, affectionately known as “Lefty”, was an avid golfer. He was a member

of the “Skin Train” Golf Club for over 40 years. Lefty competed on an

amateur level and received many trophies and accolades for his exceptional

abilities. One of his proudest achievements, on the golf course, included

acing a total of 8 holes-in-one. Willie’s passion for golf led him to accept

a position at the Highland Golf Course allowing him to earn income, post

retirement, as well as continue participating in the game, playing 18 holes

of golf after his shift.

As life evolved, so did Willie’s friendships. From daily gatherings in the

mornings at McDonalds, to playing cards at the Harvard Community

Center Willie had a humorous and vivacious personality that attracted

many genuine bonds that lasted throughout the years.

Willie Speight Jr. was preceded in death by his father, Willie Speight

Sr.; mother, Geraldine Speight-Tompkins; eldest sister, Ora Lawrence;

two younger brothers: Jeffery Tompkins and Perry Tompkins, and; three

younger sisters: Geraldine Johnson, Barbara J. Moore, and Vera Lundon.

Willie is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Dolores Mae Speight; his

four children: Darlene Young (Charles) of Garfield Heights, OH; Vanessa

M. Speight-Davis of Cleveland, OH; Willie Speight III of East Cleveland,

OH; Brenda A. Gant (preceded in death by Larry) of McDonough,

GA; his sister, Berniece Dawson of Detroit, MI; three granddaughters:

Veronica Lamar (Thomas) of Garfield Heights, OH; Marissa Kincaid of

Hendersonville, TN, and; Noel Davis of Cleveland, OH; four grandsons:

Charles Young Jr. of Garfield Heights, OH; Marcus Gant, Ethan Gant,

and Justin Gant of Atlanta, GA; and a host of great- grandchildren, nieces,

nephews, cousins, and friends.

Humbly Submitted,

The Family