Azalie Buff Leonard

Azalie Buff Leonard, 91, of Morganton, NC died Monday, May 26, 2014 at the Burke Palliative Care Center. Born in Burke County, NC on September 13, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Major Ambrose Buff, Sr. and Mae Williams Buff. Azalie was a member of Burkemont Baptist Church where she had served as a Sunday school teacher, choir member, and tireless worker in all areas of church life. She was a 1939 graduate of Morganton High School and a former employee of Shadowline.A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Azalie is survived by her sons, M. Lawrence Leonard, Jr. and his wife, Judy, of Rocky Mount, NC and Dennis Leonard and his wife, Karen (who was Azalie’s caregiver for many years), of Morganton; grandchildren, Roger "Nick" Leonard and his wife, Dawn, Marshall D. Leonard and his wife, Kathryn, P. Keith Leonard and his wife, Wendy, Clay Leonard and his wife, Kelly, Emily Garrison and her husband, Ryan, and Cari Bridges and her husband, Aaron; great-grandchildren, Ani Leonard, Landon, Noah, and Nicky Leonard, Mack and Brock Leonard, Jillian Leonard, Sydney and Drew Willis, Adair Garrison, Brayden Leonard, Elison Leonard, Chloe Garrison, Westin Bridges, and Reese Garrison; brothers, Haskel Buff and his wife, Nancy, of Morganton and Melvin Buff and his wife, Marsha, of Charlotte, NC; and many nephews and nieces.In addition to her parents, Azalie was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Mack L. Leonard; two great-grandchildren; three brothers, John Obie Buff, George Buff, and Major Buff, Jr.; and seven sisters, Jettie Mae Dale, Eloise Roper, Belle Penny, Minnie Lovelace, Mildred Shuping, Vernie Jenkins, and Ruth Taylor.The funeral will be held at 7:00 pm, Friday, May 30, 2014 at Burkemont Baptist Church with Dr. David Mills, Dr. Johnny Tiller, and Dr. Mark Pridgen officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m. prior to the service. The graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 31, 2014 in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Burkemont Baptist Church Organ Fund, 4668 Burkemont Road, Morganton, NC 28655 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690.Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.