Attorney Luther Franklin Spence departed this life on Saturday, December 5, 2020 in Maywood, Illinois.  Visitation and service will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at Hursen Funeral Home in Hillside, IL from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.  Memorial services will also be held in Dunn, NC at Dafford Funeral Home on Saturday, December 19, 2020 with final graveside services and interment in Reidsville, NC on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at Greenview Cemetery 1:00 p.m.

Luther, affectionately known as "Bruh" and "Sonny", was the oldest son of four children, born on June 25, 1943 in Dunn, North Carolina to the late Luther Spence and Katie Naomi (Freeman) Spence.  He was preceded in death by his parents and two younger brothers Connie Conrad and Larry Wade.

At a young age, Luther joined St. John's Missionary Baptist Church, where he was baptized as a teenager.  With his family, he later joined Dunn Chapel Free Will Baptist Church where he remained a member until he moved to Illinois.  After moving to Chicago, he joined Canaan AME Church where he was a member until his death.

Luther's love for family and friends, hard work and life was nurtured growing up in Dunn.  He bonded with cousins and other kids forming lifelong friendships which lasted until his death.  He attended Harnett County Training School in Dunn, North Carolina which later became Harnett High School.  He played football, basketball and Cornet in the band.

He began working as a young child as a grocery store bag boy and had a paper route.  As a teenager, he worked at the local motel and later began spending his summers working in the North; first in Washington, D.C. and then later in New York, for his Uncle Sam and Aunt Louise.

Upon high school graduation in 1960, he attended Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina on a football scholarship.  In college, he played football and pledged Omega Psi Phi.  He graduated with a B.S. degree in Chemistry and became a Chemistry teacher.  He taught at Shawtown High School in Lillington, NC where he was also the basketball coach.  He also assisted coaching football at Harnett High School where his younger brother Connie played.

Through the National Science Foundation, he completed summer enrichment programs for teachers at various universities including Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina and Wilberforce in Ohio.  It was while he was at a summer program at Shaw University that he met the love of his life, Addie Mae Bass.

Luther and Addie were married August 20, 1967.  For their honeymoon, Luther and Addie ventured to Chicago, IL with all their wedding gifts and $1500 cash.  In fact, they were still honeymooning some 53 years later, as they never returned to North Carolina.  From this union, two children were born, Kevin Franklin, who preceded him in death, and Kimberly Nichelle.

Luther believed in helping others and fighting against society's wrongs, first as a teacher and coach and later, as an attorney.  In Illinois, Luther briefly attended optometry school but switched back to teaching.  He taught at Proviso East High School and coached football for several years.  Luther left teaching and began a career in law enforcement where he worked at the Illinois Bureau of Investigation as an undercover narcotics investigator.  It was during this time that he found his passion for the law.  Luther obtained his Juris Doctorate in 1975 from DePaul University.  He founded his law firm, Luther Franklin Spence & Associates and successfully practiced law for 45 years.

Attorney Spence did not venture far from teaching.  He, and his wife Addie, founded Pee Wee's Daycare, through which they nurtured hundreds of young minds.  Through his law practice and daycare, Luther gave back to the community and spent his life trying to help others.  His desire to help others motivated him to run for Mayor and Trustee of the Village of Maywood, IL.

He leaves to cherish his memories, a loving and dedicated wife, Addie; daughter, Kimberly; four grandchildren, Brian, Katelyn, Kayla and Karissa; his devoted sister Naomi Spence Lovelace; brothers-in-law, William Henry Bass, Sterling Bass, Anthony Bass, Alvino Wilson and Richard Kilgore; sisters-in-law, Vanessa Dale Wilson, Glenda Kilgore, Linda-Faye Bass, Karen Bass and Mary Ginwright;  his aunt, Louise Jacobs; his sister-cousin, Mary "Bicie" McKissack; his childhood friend and teammate, Dr. Willis "Bob" McCloud; special cousin, Dr. Thomas "Pete" Brewington; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  Supportive of others' dreams and aspirations, there are so many others who have fond memories of their attorney, teacher, coach, brother, uncle, cousin, neighbor or friend.

McLaurin Funeral Home is serving the family.  Covid-19 precautions will be followed with social distancing, masks and sanitizing required.  You may connect to the Virtual services via teleconference call by dialing (701) 802-5263 and then access code 6545855# or FaceBook livestreaming via McLaurin Funeral Home's FB page.