(SPARROWS POINT, MD – May 9, 2026) — A true pillar of Turner Station and a lifelong servant leader, Servant Courtney L. Speed will be honored at the upcoming Black Wall Street SPARROWS POINT event, recognizing her decades of unwavering commitment to community, family, and legacy.
Rooted in faith and guided by the principle that “he that is greatest among you shall be your servant,” Speed has lived a life defined by humility, resilience, and impact.
Born in Baltimore and raised between East Baltimore and Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Speed’s early life instilled in her the values of hard work, discipline, and service. From working alongside her mother in domestic labor to excelling academically—graduating early from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School—she demonstrated a commitment to excellence from a young age.
Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to Chicago, where she earned her cosmetology license before returning home to build both a business and a life. Alongside her husband, John E. Speed Jr., she operated a barber and beauty salon in Turner Station while raising six sons.
After her husband’s tragic stroke and passing, Speed became the sole provider for her family—balancing business ownership, motherhood, and community leadership with remarkable strength and determination.
Her leadership extended into education, where she made history as the first African American female president of the Dundalk PTA, helping to usher in student participation that would evolve into today’s PTSA model.
But perhaps her most far-reaching impact came through her work preserving and amplifying one of the most important stories in American medical history. As founder and president of the Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group, Speed played a role in elevating the voice and visibility of the Lacks family, helping bring global recognition to the legacy of Henrietta Lacks.
Though not originally from Turner Station, Speed became one of its fiercest champions—embracing the community as her own and dedicating her life to its uplift.
On May 9 at the historic Pleasant Yacht Club, Baltimore’s only Black-owned yacht club, Black Wall Street SPARROWS POINT will celebrate Servant Courtney L. Speed as a living example of what it means to lead through service.
Her story is not just one of survival—but of legacy, leadership, and love for community.
