Mary Elizabeth Leonard

Mary Elizabeth Leonard, age 81 of Louisville, Kentucky passed away on Friday, May 10, 2024. Mary was born on Sunday, January 31, 1943, in Louisville, Kentucky. She transitioned to her eternal rest on Friday, May 10, 2024. Mary was the first child born to the union of the late Solomon Morgan, Sr. and the late Lillie Mae Smith Morgan. Mary was a 1961 graduate of Louisville Central High School. After high school, she did additional study in data entry and office skills. Mary worked for Enro Shirt Factory, but her longest employer was Ford Motor Company where she worked in the IT Department. Mary retired early from Ford Motor Company to take care of her mother who was on dialysis. Mary was baptized at an early age at Green Street Baptist Church by the late Reverend J.V. Bottoms, Sr. Mary was an active member of the church. She was a member of various singing groups, a Sunday School Teacher, a Youth Counselor, the Missionary Union, the Intercessory Prayer Ministry, and she was the current Director of the Usher Ministry. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Solomon Sr. and Lillie Mae Smith Morgan; her sons, Morgan LaVaughn Leonard and Donnell Leonard; her sisters, Ruby Brown Bean and Jannie Estell Morgan Burse, and her ex-husband, Don Leonard.

Mary was a friendly, kindhearted person who would give her last dime to help someone. She was also known for “speaking her mind” if she felt that she had a point to make. She loved to cook for others, and the children and youth loved her chili, spaghetti and baked spaghetti. Mary was affectionately called “Auntie Gran” by many of her family members, especially her nieces and nephews and grandchildren. She was also called “Mom” by a lot of young people who grew up around her household or with her children, Tomika and Morgan.

Mary leaves to cherish her loving memories: daughter, Tomika Yvette Leonard; stepson, Bobby Carroll (Gabrielle) Jones; adopted son, Charles Paige, Jr; granddaughters, DeeJ Pressley of Lexington, KY and Amiyah Victoria Leonard; grandsons, Garry (Tosha) Toogood and Raiden LaJai Leonard; special great granddaughter who she helped raise, Raven Toogood; sister, Julia A. Morgan; brothers, Solomon Morgan, Jr. and Sammy (Leah Renee) Morgan; sister/cousin, Mary Alice Mosley (Fellon) Dailey; aunt, Rosa (Jimmy) Bethea of Charlotte, NC; nieces, Paulette Rouse of Edgefield, SC, Lady Angela (Bishop Lionel) Harvey, Keisha Bean, and Masheika Bean, all of New York; nephews, Darrell Bean of Maryland, Freddie Bean III of New York, Ronald Math Bean of Delaware, Sammuel Morgan, Ronald Burse, Jr. and Julian Morgan; niece/cousin, Michelle Hodge (Trey) Runyon; brother-in-law, Freddie Bean, Jr.; special friends, Barbara Bottoms Rollins, Catherine “Rena” Starling, and Carol Ray Bottoms; and a host of great grandchildren, cousins and other relatives and friends.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

Visitation will be from 11am to 1pm on Monday, May 20, 2024 at Green Street Baptist Church 519 East Gray Street Louisville, Kentucky 40202, with a celebration of Mary's life to follow at 1pm.

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