Beth Leonard Whiteis

Beth Leonard Whiteis died October 7, 2024 in Braselton, Georgia. She was born in Birmingham, Alabama to the late Lt. Col. A.M. Leonard, Sr. and Jerry Davis Leonard. Beth grew up in a military family and lived in numerous locations including Japan, where she developed an appreciation for Japanese culture and costume. She was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Birmingham-Southern College and had a life-long love of learning and teaching. She taught thousands of students in three states over the course of her 32 year career. She was a longtime resident of Savannah, Georgia where she taught over four thousand students in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System. She taught at Wilder Jr. High School, A.E. Beach, Johnson High School and was a Spanish teacher at Savannah High School for over 20 years.

Beth is survived by her husband, Dave Whiteis of Braselton; daughter Dana Whiteis McCartney of Snellville; two grandsons, Jake and Robby McCartney of Snellville; sister Virginia Bratcher (Greg) of Odenville, AL; brother A.M. “Butch” Leonard, Jr. of Odenville, AL; nephew Andrew Bratcher (Jill) of Birmingham,AL; the Vinogradova family of Pskov, Russia and numerous other family, friends and former students.

Memorial Service to be held on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 2 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 422 Brenau Avenue, Gainesville, GA 30501. Reception to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Beth’s name to Hands & Hearts for Horses (handsandheartsforhorses.com) or to the charity of your choice.