James Leland Leonard

Mr. James Leland Leonard, age 83, of Jackson, passed away on Sunday, November 2, 2014 at Jackson General Hospital.Funeral services for Mr. Leonard will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at 1 p.m. in the South Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home with Rev. Johnny Williams officiating. Interment will follow in Ebenezer Cemetery in the Malesus Community of South Jackson. James was born on June 19, 1931 in Alton, Illinois to the late Leland Lee and Winifred MaGee Leonard. He served his country in the Air Force for four years as an instrument technician, eventually becoming a Staff Sargent. He graduated second in a class of three hundred from the Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS. He was a businessman who loved to work, but enjoyed camping and fishing in his spare time. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather to his family.In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by a great granddaughter, Morgan Mobley.Mr. Leonard is survived by his loving and faithful wife of 63 years, Velma Booher Leonard; two sons, James R. Leonard (Bobbie) and Eric Leonard, all of Jackson, TN; a granddaughter, Jamie Lee Mobley (Joshua); and a great grandson, Weston Mobley.Visitation with the family will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 from 5-7 p.m. in the South Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home.