VERNEAL "NEAL" (HILL) LEONARD

Oct. 22, 1930 - May 7, 2009
SOUTH BEND - Verneal "Neal" Leonard, who was born October 22, 1930, in Brownsville, Tennessee, to Sarah Katherine Hill and George W. Hill Jr., passed quietly and peacefully away on May 7, 2009,, while at home with her children in South Bend, Indiana.

Verneal, affectionately known as both "Tough" and "Sweet" Neal, attended Brownsville and South Bend Schools; the last being Central High School.

She was united in holy matrimony to Henry Leonard Jr.; they were married for 40-plus years when Henry passed away on December 4, 1992. Their union was blessed with five daughters and one son, Diane (Gloston) Jackson, Rita Harris, Marva Leonard-Dent and Leanette McCaster of South Bend, Cheryl Leonard of Seattle, Washington, and Craig D. (Ernestine) Leonard of Michigan City, Indiana. In addition to being missed by her loving six children, Verneal will be greatly missed by each and every one of her grandchildren, Michael A. LeSure (Billie) of Carmel, Indiana, Antonio E. Talton, Kirkland, Washington, Gregory Devon Harris, South Bend, Calvin L. (Breana) Daniels, Fishers, Indiana, Shawna R. (Dallas) Leonard, Glen Burnie, MD, D'Juan C. Brown, Seattle, Washington, Christopher A. Harris, Lexington, Kentucky, Marcus A. Parker, Fishers, Indiana, Dorian D. Dent and Monique L. Edwards of South Bend. Verneal is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Devon, Carter, Ryan, Lenox Dionne, Andreas, Peyton Dionne and Gregory Dionne; her son-in-law, Dorian N. Dent; five sisters, Rose Ann Austin, Evelyn (John) Childress and Betty Childress, all of South Bend, Josie Thompson, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Patricia Washington, Flint, Michigan; and two brothers, George (Rozelia) Hill Jr. and Donald Hill of South Bend; along with a host of special aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins relatives and true lifelong friends.

Verneal's husband, Henry, mother and father, Sarah and George, brother, Robert, and granddaughter, Dionne JeNae, preceded her in death. Verneal was a member of Pentecostal Cathedral Church of God in Christ and also regularly attended services and fellowshipped with her brother George at Ardmore LaSalle Church of Christ, Hardie Blake Jr., Evangelist. Verneal was a very loving person, known to greet you with "Hey, Baby!," was always smiling, very friendly, personable and loved and was well-known by people throughout the city. Neal will be truly remembered and missed.

Visitation and viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, May 12th, and funeral services will be held at noon in the Pentecostal Cathedral Church of God in Christ, 1025 W. Western Avenue, South Bend. Arrangements have been entrusted to Alford's Mortuary where bereavement messages may be e-mailed to alfordsmortuary@comcast.net, c/o the Leonard family.

Published by South Bend Tribune on May 10, 2009.

02/07/2023 EJS