Rev. Spearman’s NAACP Lawsuit Will Continue After His Death Says Attorney

Generally, pending court action on a defamation claim does not survive the death of a plaintiff.

Attorney Mark T. Cummings
Attorney Mark T. Cummings
By Cash Michaels –

By North Carolina law, the defamation portion of the late Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman’s lawsuit against National NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson and other NAACP members died with him recently, when his lifeless body was discovered near a huge pool of blood in his Guilford County home, according to his attorney.

Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman
Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman

But, Rev. Spearman’s claim of civil conspiracy against Johnson, National NAACP Board Chairman Leon W. Russell, NC NAACP Pres. Deborah Dicks Maxwell, and several other NC NAACP members, will most likely remain in force, with the estate of the former NC NAACP president serving as plaintiff, says Spearman’s Greensboro attorney, Mark T. Cummings.

In fact, in an exclusive taped telephone interview, Cummings indicated that he’s further researching the possibility of adding new claims to his deceased client’s litigation against members of the civil rights organization he once held dear.

“I’m doing some more research on what types of provisions are available,” Cummings said, noting that the defendants were fighting to have Spearman’s lawsuit moved to federal court even before his shocking death.

Cummings also alleged that at least three of the North Carolina defendants in Rev. Spearman’s lawsuit may have been sources of false, libelous accusations against the Christian minister that were published in a scandalous online blog by an ex-convict with a long criminal history, which includes convictions for making bomb threats and extortion.

Those accusations have been hurtful to Rev. Spearman’s wife, Janice, and family, and Cummings promises that they will be legally dealt with.

“I’m confident that the civil conspiracy case [can go forward] in some form … and there can be other claims added, and other plaintiffs,” Cummings said. “Mrs. Spearman, who is suffering tremendously from the continued defamation of her husband, can herself have claims for additional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress, so in some form or fashion, there’s going to be action that continues.”

Cummings also made clear that he dismisses as false a claim—reportedly made to police by a young man (whose name is being withheld) who was arrested and charged with accosting Rev. Spearman at gunpoint for $2,000.00—that an illicit assault had allegedly occurred on him by Spearman. Cummings surmises that after the young man—whom Rev. Spearman had innocently been helping for several years—was arrested in Guilford County by authorities on July 13 for allegedly robbing Spearman in his home and stealing his cellphone at gunpoint, he came up with the false allegation to cover his motive upon his arrest.

911 recordings back up the alleged robbery claim from Spearman.

That same person of interest, who has a prior criminal record in Guilford County, was released on a $15,100 bond the following day (July 14) after an unnamed woman paid $100.00, covering the rest with a $1,500.00 bond paid by an insurance company, county records show.

According to the Guilford County Clerk of Court’s office, the suspect in the robbery of Rev. Spearman faces five charges, including carrying a concealed gun, robbery with a dangerous weapon, driving left of center (police stopped him on a street in Greensboro after tracking him through Rev. Spearman’s phone which he allegedly had in his possession), simple possession of a schedule six narcotic, and possession of marijuana.

He is due for a court hearing on August 10.

Attorney Cummings believes there may be more to this matter. “And what I hope I don’t find is a connection to some NAACP members,” he said.

Is there a connection between the suspect in the Spearman robbery and Rev. Spearman’s death on Tuesday, July 19?

At press time Guilford County investigators have not publicly confirmed any connection, giving few details. No one is reportedly being held by authorities.

The Peacemaker interviewed the first person (name withheld) to see Rev. Spearman’s body on the day of his death.

This witness could only confirm that when Rev. Spearman did not show up on July 19 to a public meeting he was expected to attend, he went to the home with one of Spearman’s relatives.

He found Rev. Spearman’s body downstairs in the basement, on a couch, in a T-shirt and pajama bottoms. His body was slumped over, and a trail of blood from the top of the couch culminated in an enormous pool in front of it on the floor, so large that the witness says he could not approach the body to see any wounds, or anything in Spearman’s hands. The witness says he knew, however, based on his observation, that Rev. Spearman had to have been deceased for some time. That’s when EMS was called.

Rev. Spearman’s body was discovered sometime after 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19. News of his death was not reported until approximately noon the following day.

However, according to an NAACP member, word of Rev. Spearman’s “suicide” was emailed out to NC NAACP members in Wayne County on that Wednesday at 10:25 a.m. by NC NAACP Secretary Sylvia Barnes.

“I am sad to inform you that our past president, Rev. Anthony Spearman committed suicide on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. I have no further information at this time. This was announced at the national [NAACP] convention and I also understand many of the TV stations. Rev. Spearman lived in Greensboro.”

The National NAACP was meeting in Atlantic City, NJ at the time, and that fact raises the question of how Rev. Spearman’s death could be announced as a “suicide” on Wednesday morning in New Jersey when, here in North Carolina, authorities still haven’t announced details of their investigation over a week later?

Atty. Cummings says Rev. Spearman did not own a gun, and he is certain his death was not a suicide—if only because of the high moral and spiritual character he maintained in the community. Cummings adds that he’s been in constant contact with Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers about the case, but he’s still requesting that state authorities “…assist in a full and fair investigation.”

“In fact, that is the family’s request,” Cummings said.

Scurrilous rumors about Rev. Spearman’s death have circulated in Greensboro, and throughout the state, fed by the fact that there has been no word from Guilford County authorities as to what the medical examiner has determined as the cause of death.

Rev. Spearman’s body was released to his family around two weeks later, on or about July 27. His grief-stricken family, led by his beloved widow, Janice, issued the following statement in tribute:

“The Spearman family is utterly devastated by the transition of our patriarch, Reverend Dr. T. Anthony Spearman. He was a man of strong conviction who loved his family with every ounce of his being. We solicit your prayers as we grieve this insurmountable loss and request your consideration and privacy as we go through this season of bereavement.”

Spearman served as NC NAACP president from 2017 until 2021, succeeding the Rev. Dr. William Barber, who issued a statement upon word of his death saying, “My heart is broken … I have lost a true brother in the struggle…”

Spearman was ousted in a controversial Oct. 2021 election by New Hanover County NAACP President Deborah Dicks Maxwell, and contested that election based on alleged irregularities the national office reportedly ignored. He was eventually suspended by National NAACP president/CEO Derrick Johnson prior to filing his lawsuit.

Rev. Spearman’s funeral was held Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church in Greensboro. His body was then sent back to his native Detroit, Michigan for burial.

Editor’s Note: Afrique Kilimanjaro assisted in the research of this story.