From MLK’s driver to group impression: The highly effective story of Leak and Sons Funeral Residence in Chicago

CHICAGO – For over 90 years, Leak and Sons Funeral Properties has been supporting Chicagoland households throughout their instances of loss.

However past their funeral companies, they continue to be deeply dedicated to giving again to the group in ways in which many individuals might not notice.

This Black Historical past Month, we have fun a household enterprise that has remained a pillar of the group for generations.

A 91-year legacy

The backstory:

It began in 1933.

“My grandmother, Dottie Leak, loaned my grandfather, A.R. Leak, $500. He matched that with $500 that he earned on the Chicago Worlds Truthful and with that opened up Unity Funeral Residence,” stated Spencer Leak Jr., Vice President of Leak and Sons Funeral Residence. 

Leak Jr. shared that his grandfather later parted methods with Unity and established his personal funeral residence at forty fourth and State.

In 1959, the enterprise relocated to 78th and Cottage Grove. After A.R. Leak’s passing in 1993, Spencer Sr. took over as CEO.

“So, we at the moment are 91 years outdated,” stated Leak Jr. 

Leak Jr. manages each the times and, typically, the nights. The funeral residence operates 24 hours a day, daily, 12 months after 12 months.

“That simply makes me really feel so good that we’re so effectively revered locally due to that Leak identify,” stated Leak Jr.

Leak Jr., who’s the eldest of the Leak brothers, has by no means needed to go to a job interview.

“I began working after I was 12 years outdated, answering the telephone and my voice had not modified but, and they might say, ‘Hiya, ma’am. I would like to talk to such and such.’ And I would say, ‘I am Spencer Leak Jr.’ I might attempt to make my voice deep,” stated Leak Jr. “I used to be driving the limousines the day after I bought my driver’s license, choosing up households.”

Leak Jr. earned his faculty diploma in mortuary science and funeral service, together with his youthful brothers, Stacy and Steven, finally following swimsuit.

“Primarily, I am an extension of my older brother. I simply kinda deal with issues and simply be sure that operations go easily,” stated Stacy Leak.

“I am the one who directs the precise ceremony and I take the households to the cemetery,” stated Stephen Leak, who’s a licensed funeral director.

That’s proper—it is a true household enterprise, with dad, mother, a cousin, and all of the brothers working collectively.

“Spencer’s a tough employee day and evening. Stevie, Stacy, arduous staff and I like all of them,” stated Henrietta Leak.

Henrietta has been married to Spencer Sr. for 55 years, however she admits that working along with her sons has undoubtedly modified over time.

“It is fairly arduous as a result of my youngsters are grown, and so they do not wanna take heed to me. They inform me what to do. It is kinda arduous, particularly with Spencer Jr.,” stated Henrietta.

Placing parenting tales apart, she is right here daily.

“I name myself the official meeter and greeter as a result of I meet the households on the door, and earlier than they pass over, we’re huggin’,” stated Henrietta. “We simply get to know one another so as soon as they depart, they’re part of the household too.”

At a household’s request, she’ll even add her personal private contact.

“Yeah I do nails. I do make-up. I do hair typically. If I’ve a household that simply don’t love the colour of the nails, I simply go and redo it immediately. I simply need everyone once they depart the funeral residence to be glad. Each household,” stated Henrietta.

Neighborhood Impression

Dig deeper:

That service and legacy lengthen far past these partitions.

“Whether or not its paying for lease or giving garments, giving meals. We give cash yearly for Christmas, decreasing the price of funerals,” stated Leak Jr. 

A.R. Leak even put his identify on church mortgages to assist maintain them open, and Leak Sr. continues to help these in have to today.

“My first recollections at the same time as a baby, I would be out with my dad and folks would simply come as much as him thanking him and being grateful for him. I by no means understood that till I bought a bit of older,” stated Stacy.

There are articles relationship again to the Nineteen Sixties that spotlight the efforts of A.R. Leak and native pastors to make sure households have been laid to relaxation the place they needed to be.

“In 1963, Oakwoods cemetery wouldn’t permit Blacks to be buried or cremated there. All of them bought collectively, marched from our funeral residence right here to Oakwoods Cemetery. There should have been about 2,000 folks and met with the cemetery house owners. Two weeks later, Oakwoods Cemetery opened their doorways as much as Blacks,” stated Leak Jr. 

They’ve served households you might not know, in addition to these you do—like Chicago comic Bernie Mac, the daddy of Black gospel music Thomas Dorsey, and legendary singer Sam Cooke.

“You see my dad and my uncle and my grandfather eradicating his stays from O’Hare, bringing him again to his chapel right here with possibly hundreds of individuals on the road, girls on the entrance door, I perceive that they ripped the entrance door down making an attempt to see Sam Cooke,” stated Leak Jr. 

Leak Sr. additionally had the consideration of serving as a driver for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Within the 60s, when Dr. King would go to no matter metropolis, particularly when he got here to Chicago, there have been no white limousine firms that might supply limousines to Dr. King. The one people who had limousines have been Black funeral residence house owners. Each time he got here in at O’Hare, it might be my father and grandfather that might meet him at O’Hare and take him to no matter locations,” stated Leak Jr. 

A detailed-knit household

That historical past is mirrored on the partitions of their three places—Chicago, Nation Membership Hills, and Matteson. However what you do not see is the love the Leaks put into their work—and into one another.

“You hear about households who combat. We don’t combat. We’re a close-knit household. My dad, my brothers. My cousin who’s not right here, Leon,” stated Leak Jr. 

“Some folks attempt to get away from their households. I like being with my household. It is a blessing for positive,” Stephen Leak stated.

And the group has acknowledged that, era after era.

“I’m in and out my black and gold, although I am a Kappa,” stated Leak Jr. “I am in my black and gold and folks say, ‘I do know who you might be. You are Spencer. You are a kind of Leak boys. Your grandfather took care of my mom. Your father took care of my cousin and my uncle. You all have taken care of everyone in our household.’ That simply makes me really feel so good that we’re effectively revered locally.”

They consider that God takes care of them—and even the signal out entrance displays that.

Leak Jr. changed it years in the past, however his father wasn’t keen on the change.

“He stated, ‘You’ve got up there that your grandfather based this funeral residence in 1933. Your grandfather did not discovered this funeral residence. He co-founded it. Our enterprise was based by God. Take the signal down and put that again up.’ Price me $5000,” stated Leak Jr.

The Subsequent Era

What’s subsequent:

For over 90 years, Leak & Sons has been devoted to serving Chicago households—now with the subsequent era main the best way.

“My son is A.R. Leak as effectively, so he is caught with it. In order that’s considered one of my sons and the opposite one is Carter Spencer, so sadly their path is chosen for them already,” stated Stacy Leak.

“They are often what they wanna be. Fortunately, we give them the chance to be what they wanna be,” stated Stephen Leak.

Leak and Sons will stay a long-lasting a part of Chicago’s historical past.

“That sounds good, I am part of historical past. Yeah,” stated Henrietta.

They’re grateful to the individuals who have helped carry this household enterprise ahead.

“Thanks for supporting us. We have been round 91 years. My husband now could be 88, and I am older,” stated Henrietta.

“I might not be right here with out them. I’m so grateful to all the folks within the metropolis and the suburbs who’ve trusted the Leak household for now 91 years. We admire them a lot,” stated Leak Jr. 

The fourth era is at present in faculty, so time will inform who joins their dad and grandparents within the household enterprise.