Lillian Marie Cannon Leonard

Lillian Marie Cannon Leonard, 95 of Drexel, NC passed away, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Born on February 4, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Reuben Henry Cannon and Verona Cannon. Lillian was a member of Bridge 42 Baptist Church. She devoted much of her life of service for the church, serving in various capacities involving children, adolescents and adults. She was a woman of faith and was known to be the go to prayer warrior within her family, friends and church family.  Every day her health allowed, she would be found completing daily devotions with her current Bible in her special place at home watching the sun rise.

Her family was her joy, raising four children within the Carbon City community and the former Calvin Heights Baptist Church families.  As her family expanded to three grandchildren and four great grandchildren, she delighted in sharing their stories and life journeys.  In her final months, she would “light up” spending time with her two new family members and loved watching them grow through weekly photographs.  She took great pride in having a family with five generations, frequently telling people she was a Great Great Grandmother.

She was well known for two of her favorite activities: gardening and cooking. Any holiday she cooked for our family was always special, especially all the Christmases.  There are many special memories for her Christmas celebrations.  Everyone was made to feel welcome, join in the activities and share an abundance of delicious food.  Her flower gardens were particularly special to her, as many of her flowers, trees and plants were gifts from her sisters and family.  She enjoyed watching the blooms and growth throughout the years, developing an amazing “green thumb”. 

The family would like to thank the offices of the late Dr. Clay Richardson and Dr. Gandhari Loomis for many years of compassionate care for this special woman.  A special thank you to all the staff at AMOREM in assisting the family with her end of life care.

Lillian is survived by her children, Mitzy Alma Lancaster (Clyde), Susan Verona Orders (Mike), Robi Leonard Baker; grandchildren, Jennifer Orders Holden (Stephen), Philip Leonard, Jr. (Christie), Christina Orders Holden (Sam); great-grandchildren, Alan Holden (Kyra), Luke Holden (Anna), Caleb Holden (Anna Marie), Lillian Leonard; great great-grandchildren, Alayna Belle Holden, Owen Elias Holden.

In addition to her parents, Lillian is preceded in death by her husband, Jack Leonard; siblings, Grace Saunders, Joseph Cannon, Vernon Cannon, Mary Lee Pipes, Myrtle Greene, Margaret Townsend, Courtney Yount, Max Cannon; son, Philip Leonard Sr.; son-in-law, Keith Baker.

There will be a graveside service at 11am, Monday, July 18, 2022 at Bridge 42 Baptist Church with the Rev. Andrew Whisenant officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Amorem Hospice or the Bridge42 Cemetery Fund.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.