Bernard Harding Speaks Jr.

Bernard Harding Speaks, Jr. 69, affectionally known as “Junior” passed away peacefully on Monday, November 6, 2017 in Wilmington, NC after a brief illness.  Junior was the oldest son of the Late Bernard H. Speaks, Sr. and the Late Former State Representative Mary C. Ross, he was born on July 17, 1948 in Providence, RI.

Junior lived in Providence almost all of his life and was educated in the Providence School System where he graduated from Hope High School. Junior enlisted in the Air Force and served honorably in Vietnam.  He later went on to earn his Associate’s degree in 1993. 

After serving in the Air Force, Junior worked as an Adult Correctional Officer at the ACI in Cranston for 19 years and was a member of the RI Brotherhood of Corrections, Fraternal Order of Police and the Rhode Island Minority Police Association where he was able to serve on a security detail for the late Rosa Parks.  He recently retired from a trucking company in 2011 at the age of 63.  Junior was a master at the game of Chess and was an advert player he also enjoyed learning more of his Native American Heritage and was a member of the Northern Narragansett Indian Tribe Of RI.

Junior is survived by his three children Tiki Leigh Speaks and son Bernard Vincent Speaks, both of Providence, RI and daughter Tianna Renee Shojgreen (Ricardo) of Camp Lejeune, NC.  He had 3 grandchildren, granddaughters Darrelle Nicole Singleton-Speaks, and Aubriana Harding Shojgreen and grandson Mason Charles Shojgreen.  He left behind three sisters Ann Marie Waite (Arizona), Joanne “Josie’ (Everett) Scott (Neveda) Mary Margaret “Maggie” Speaks (Florida) and a younger brother Herbert “Herbie” (Sherry) Ross, Jr.  Junior also leaves behind a loving aunt Rosie Watkins and a host of loving nieces and nephews who will miss their “Uncle Junior” along with many cousins and friends. He is preceded in death by one brother Vincent  (Judith) Speaks and 3 sisters Gloria Searight, Rosemary Potter and Davida Ross.

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