James Speed

JAMES SPEED James Robert Speed, 61, of Las Vegas, passed away Sept. 14, 2011, a Nathan Adelson Hospice, after a brief battle with cancer. He was born Oct. 20, 1949, in Shreveport, La., and was a 36-year resident of Nevada. He was most recently employed as a real estate referral agent with Prudential Americana Group, having worked in the past as a rehabilitation counselor for the blind and visually handicapped. He was actively involved as a member of the Older Americans and Handicapped Advisory Committee for the Regional Transportation Commission, 100 Black Men of Las Vegas and a member of the National Federation of the Blind. He was a high school All-American from Valencia High School in Shreveport. He attended Imperial Valley Junior College in Imperial, Calif., and the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. He subsequently graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., and received his master's from Grambling State University, Grambling, La. He was preceded in death by his father, Luther Speed; a stepfather, Juril Woods; and a stepdaughter, Tammy Johnson. He leaves behind his wife, of 36 years, Sylvia; mother, Bernice Woods; a sister, Delores (David) Roberson of Shreveport; a daughter and son, Shanaan and Yancy; two stepchildren, Stephanie Booker and Erik Johnson; two grandchildren, Cortney Coppage and Aja Johnson; father-in-law, William Beasley of Cleveland; sister-in-law, Theresa (Lee) Brown of Pensacola, Fla.; and nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous relatives and friends of Las Vegas, Shreveport, and throughout the United States. Visitation 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at Desert Memorial, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. N. Memorial services 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. 4709 S. Nellis Blvd. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the James Speed Charitable Fund.