Christine Leonard

Published 9:27 am Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Christine Leonard, 90, of Hampton, went home to be with her Lord on Monday, September 22, 2014, at Sycamore Shoals Hospital, following a brief illness.
Christine was a native of Carter County and a daughter of the late Lee and Mattie Carr Sams. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant son, Charles.
Mrs. Leonard retired from North American Rayon Corporation with over 30 years of service and was a member of Union Baptist Church in Hampton. She loved cooking, quilting, gardening and spending time with her family.
Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Paul Leonard, of the home; three sons, Wayne Leonard and wife Joann, Chesnee, S.C., Gary Leonard and wife Vickie, Elizabethton, and Dennis Leonard and wife Shirley, Hampton; five grandchildren, Sonya Leonard, Elizabethton, Kevin Leonard, Hampton, Jimmy Leonard and wife Amy, Spartanburg, S.C., Elaine Bridges and husband Chad, Inman, S.C., and Scotty Leonard and wife Alicia, Mars Hill, N.C.; three great-grandchildren; one brother, Stanley Sams, Aiken, S.C.; and four sisters, Trula Fortner, Elizabethton, Launa Merritt, Hampton, Louise Renfro, Johnson City, and Selma Perry, Bluff City. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
A service to honor the life of Mrs. Leonard will be conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 25, in the Chapel of Peace of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Rev. Danny Bright officiating. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, prior to the service, or at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Vickie Leonard, 167 Blue Springs Road, Elizabethton, at anytime. The graveside service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, September 26, in the Union Baptist Church Cemetery in Hampton. Active pallbearers will be Kevin Leonard, Jimmy Leonard, Scotty Leonard, James Norris, Sam Grindstaff and Ken Rainbolt. Honorary pallbearers will be the Deacons of Union Baptist Church, Terry Leonard, Kenneth Leonard and Jimmy VanDyke. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, at 9:15 a.m. Friday to go in procession. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to Hale Community Ministries, C/O Watauga Baptist Association, 3871 Highway 19E, Elizabethton, TN 37643, in honor of Christine. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is proudly serving the Leonard family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.