Willard Leonard

Published 6:00 am Monday, January 28, 2008

Services for Johnny Willard Leonard, of McComb, are 10 a.m.Monday, Jan. 28, at Jones Family Funeral Services in McComb withburial in Hollywood Cemetery. Dr. Larry Leonard and the Revs. RonScarlett and Rick Kennedy will officiate.

Visitation is Sunday from 5 until 8 p.m. and Monday from 9 a.m.until the time of the service at the funeral home.

Mr. Leonard, 85, died Jan. 24, 2008, at Southwest MississippiRegional Medical Center. He was born in Walthall County on Nov. 22,1922, to Ben Leonard Sr. and Roxie Boyd Leonard.

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He was a retired truck driver for Capitol Transport and BuffaloServices. He was a member of New Heights Baptist Church in Summitwhere he was a substitute Sunday school teacher. For many years, hetaught Sunday school at First Church of the Nazarene in McComb,where he was a former member. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WorldWar II.

Mr. Leonard’s family referred to him as a loving husband, fatherand grandfather, and a very devout Christian that loved andsupported his church and family. He never met a strange and was afriend that everyone appreciated.

Preceding him in death were his parents; four brothers, Jasper,Gilbert, Edward and Calvin Leonard; and two sisters, Maudie LeeLeonard and Alvie Sterling.

Survivors are his wife of nearly 59 years, Norma CraftonLeonard, of McComb; his sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. LarryLeonard and Dr. Gay Leonard, of Lakeland, Fla., and Tim and JillLeonard, of Bogue Chitto; his daughters and sons-in-law, Diane andRoy Griffin and Jody and Harold White, all of McComb; his brother,Ben Leonard Jr., of McComb; his sister, Bertha Lund, ofMinneapolis, Minn.; his grandchildren, Brandi Smith and husbandAdam, and Brad Jetton and wife Heather, all of McComb, JonathanLeonard, of Homestead, Fla., Christina Leonard, of Nashville,Tenn., Anthony Leonard and wife Kassie, of Crystal Springs, andJared Leonard, of Bogue Chitto; his three great-grandchildren,Griffin and Grayson Smith, and Taylor Jetton, all of McComb; andnumerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Brad Jetton, Jonathan Leonard, AnthonyLeonard, Jared Leonard, Adam Smith and John Magee.