Editor’s note: Long-time south suburban community leader Spencer Leak Jr. died unexpectedly on May 31. Donna Smith-Brumfield, a leader of South Suburban Diversity Dinners and president of the Homewood Rotary Club, offered the note and article below as a tribute to Mr. Leak.

Author’s note: I wanted to share an interview I had the honor of conducting with Spencer Leak, Jr. in 2022 for a Black History Month article focused on Black family legacy. In light of his passing and the many tributes being shared about him, I found myself reflecting deeply on the words from that conversation. 

Several things Spencer spoke about during the interview have come to pass. The Leak Matteson Funeral Home location opened in 2023, and the fourth generation of the family legacy is now continuing through Spencer, Jr. and Donna Leak’s son, Tre, who joined the business full-time this spring following his graduation from Michigan State University. Spencer, Jr. proudly announced Tre’s transition into the business just several weeks ago. 

What moved me most during the interview — and even more so now — was the genuine love and admiration Spencer, Jr. expressed when speaking about his father, as well as the deep care and compassion the Leak family consistently showed to the families they serve during life’s most difficult moments. 

I remain grateful for the opportunity to help capture a portion of the beautiful backstory of the Leak family funeral home legacy and the values that continue to shape it across generations.

By Donna Smith-Brumfield, Guest Writer

The glamor of owning a business with your family name sprawled across the building is the only aspect many people know about owning a family business. People often do not consider the challenges and obstacles encountered to achieve lasting success. For this special series, we will hear from several successful African American business owners as they share the back stories to their business’ success. 

A Family Legacy Founded by God

For over 88 years, Leak & Sons Funeral Home has been a family-owned and operated business serving as a beacon of hope for bereaved families in the African American community. 

In 1933, Rev. A. R. Leak had a vision of opening his own funeral business to provide the Black community with an affordable and respectable means of burying their loved ones. Rev. Leak worked in the funeral business until his passing in 1993. 

Spencer Leak Sr, Owner and President of Leak & Sons Funeral Home and Vice President, Spencer Leak, Jr, have been serving the community for three generations now. Currently, there are two locations, one on Chicago’s South Side and a location in Country Club Hills. A new location will soon open in Matteson, IL. 

The Leak & Sons Funeral Home is one of the most well-respected funeral home businesses in the industry. It is often referred to as an institution that has helped so many families throughout the years; Leak & Sons has a reputation for service delivery that ensures honor, dignity and respect. 

This family has made significant sacrifices of their time and dedicated their lives to the success of their business. Leak, Jr. shared examples of the sacrifices made by the family, especially his father.

He shared this family story that was passed down to him: following his birth, his parents stopped at the funeral home en route to their home so that his dad could go to work. On another occasion, he shared that his family held a birthday party at the funeral home because his father had to work.

Faith in Action

The Leak & Sons Funeral Home business has a strong belief in God as the founder of the business. ‘Founded by God’ is prominently displayed on the business signage. Their faith is manifested daily in the compassionate manner in which they treat families they serve. The staff is instructed by the owners to “Never turn away any family due to a lack of funds.” The owners believe that, “Any family that comes to them in their time of need is a gift from God, so if a family is turned away, it’s turning away one of God’s gifts.” 

Resilience 

The Leak & Sons Funeral Home has had many ups and downs during its eight (and counting)decades of business. During times of set-backs, they kept God first, with Spencer Leak, Sr. favorite line being, “The Lord is Blessing.”   

Spencer Leak, Jr. refers to his beloved father, as his biggest motivation for their business success and credits him with building on the great name left to him by his father. Leak, Jr. also expressed sincere appreciation to the community for 88 plus years of loyalty and support. 

The Leak & Sons Funeral Home is an institution of compassion that has helped countless families through the years to provide their loved ones with the honor, dignity and respect every person deserves. It is because of the vision of Rev. A. R. Leak, the sacrifice commitment and leadership of Spencer Leak, Sr. and Spencer Leak, Jr. and their hope to “continue the legacy founded by God” that the 4th generation of Leak & Sons is poised to continue. 

Donna Smith-Brumfield is on a mission to support African American individuals and organizations to tell their stories for legacy purposes and preservation. She is the author of I Know Who I Am: Stories of Race, Racism and 21st Century Realities. (2021).