FRESNO, CA (KMJ) -Hundreds of people filled the Warnors Theatre in Fresno to remember H Spees at a Celebration of his life on Saturday.
Pastor and Fresno City leader Harold “H” Spees died on May 5th at the age of 70.
Across the Valley and through the country, and even the world, he was an advocate for the impoverished, the homeless, and less fortunate, pastoring to their needs and fighting for their rights.
On Saturday, June 3, 2023, his family and friends held a service to come together and honor the man who had made Fresno his home, and its community his family.
His wife and children announced his death, writing on Caring Bridge that “on April 26th, he suffered a catastrophic head trauma caused by a cardiac event.”
He passed away at the hospital in Florida on May 5th, with his family by his bed.
A spiritual guide for many, he served as a pastor at Northwest Church, and headed up nonprofit organizations – One By One Leadership and Youth For Christ.
Spees spent four years as Fresno’s Housing and Homelessness Services Director before retiring in 2022.
His family described him as a loving husband, dad, grandpa and friend, saying he spent his whole life in selfless service, especially to those who are the most vulnerable.
Here is a link to see the memorial on YouTube:
Spees family each took a turn describing what he meant to them.
His eldest daughter, Corrie Sands, had previously interviewed her father for Storycorps. The audio was intertwined with stories during the ceremony. Spees describing the spaces in which he was a leader in his life, and the work he was able to do.
If you have the privilege of knowing H, you know he is a loving husband, dad, grandpa and friend. He makes everyone who talks with him feel like the most important person in the world. He has spent his whole life in selfless service, especially to those who are the most vulnerable.
The final audio of the the service was of Spees, himself. The Warnor’s Theatre screen showed a photo of Spees and his daughter, Corrie, while the audio playing was H, describing how he got the most meaning acting in his role as pastor, while attending to the many funerals over the course of his life. Spees said it was during that time – even more so than at weddings – that family would come together and share stories of their departed loved ones and connect with each other on a deeper level. Stories of how they remembered ‘gramma making waffles in the kitchen’ and the sounds and smells. Spees called it a “divine appointment.”
They are ready, they are ready to hear.
KMJ’S Liz Kern was there at the ceremony, and put this story together as told by his family and H Spees, himself.
