Rockdale Citizen

Mr. Benny L. Leavelle, age 80 of Conyers, GA went home to be with the Lord on the 1st day of July, 2012. Benny graduated from Southwest DeKalb High School in 1948 where he met Barbara, the love of his life. In recent years he enjoyed planning many high school reunions and kept in touch with his fellow classmates. They have twin daughters and one son. Benny was a member of Hardeman Primitive Baptist Church, Decatur, GA. Benny and Barbara enjoyed 63 years together camping, boating and traveling on their Goldwing motorcycle until Benny’s health issues began. He also was a lifetime member of the Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc. At age 63 he was diagnosed with colon cancer, had melanoma surgery in 2005 as well as back surgery and hip replacement the same year, but he never gave up! Benny was a hard-working, dedicated husband and father who retired after 33 years as a rural letter carrier for the U.S. Post Office, this after being in construction work with his father for many years. He was the last congressional appointment of rural letter carriers in Georgia and possibly in the U.S. He served one term as president of the Rural Letter Carriers Association. For 9 years he worked part-time at Cowan Ace Hardware loving every minute of it until health issues forced him to retire again. Benny is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Lillie Leavelle. He is survived by wife, Barbara; children, Brenda Leavelle, Tucker, Deborah and Dan Alderman, Gainesville, FL, Stephen and Judi Leavelle, Loganville; grandchildren, Robert Bradlee Alderman, Jenni (Leavelle) & Chris Wheeler, Traci (Leavelle) & Justin Ivey, and Ami Leavelle. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 5, 2012 at 11 a.m. at Scot Ward’s Green Meadow Chapel with Rev. Russ Butcher and Rev. Carl (Butch) Butcher officiating; interment will follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hardeman Primitive Baptist Church, c/o Sandra Wilkinson, 941 Rolling Meadows Dr., Loganville, GA 30052 or the American Cancer Society, 200 Lake Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30319 or the American Heart Assoc., P.O. Box 672648, Marietta, GA 30006. Condolences may be submitted on-line at www.scotward.com. Scot Ward Funeral Services, 699 American Legion Road, Conyers, 30012, 770-483-7216.