Frances Leonard

Frances Elizabeth Strother Leonard, 87, of 159 Virginia Avenue, Danville, VA, died on Thursday, February 21, 2013, at home and with her family gathered at her side, after being in declining health for several months. Born January 7, 1926, in Oxford, NC, she was the daughter of the late Edgar Vernon Strother, Sr. and Nina Elizabeth Duke Strother. She was married to the late Billy Bright Leonard on July 4, 1948, who predeceased her on May 19, 1986. She attended the Women's College of the University of North Carolina, now UNC-Greensboro, and before marriage and children worked at the Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint Division in Washington, DC, and the Union National Bank in Oxford, NC. Frances had many interests over her long life, including flower arranging and gardening, church, and volunteer work, and was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church and Forest Hills Garden Club. But her real passions were her family and bridge. After the family moved to Danville in 1965, Frances and Billy became very active members of the Danville Duplicate Bridge Club, and she later taught bridge, was a Certified Director, and won many awards, including attaining Silver Life Master ranking in the American Contract Bridge League. Frances is survived by a daughter, Lisa Frances Leonard Shelton, and husband Ricky, of Danville, VA, and a son, David Bright Leonard, of Peachtree City, GA; brother, Edgar Vernon "Pete" Strother, Jr., and wife Peggy, of Oxford, NC; sister, Dorothy "Dot" O'Brien of Durham, NC; and 5 grandchildren, David Andrew Leonard of Smyrna, GA, and Brenden Charles Leonard and Jennifer Lauren Leonard of Peachtree City, GA, Christopher James "CJ" Lewis of Troutville, VA, and Nina Frances Bright Boelte of Danville, VA. In addition to her husband Billy, she was predeceased by a daughter, Nina Catherine Leonard Kilgore, of Danville, VA, who died on November 16, 1993. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2013, at 3:00pm at First Presbyterian Church, 842 Main Street, Danville, VA, with the Reverend Allen Thompson officiating. Graveside service and interment will be on Monday, February 25 at 2:00pm at Elmwood Cemetery, Hillsboro and Harris Streets, Oxford, NC. The family respectfully requests memorial donations to First Presbyterian Church, 842 Main Street, Danville, VA, or the charity of their choice. The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 24, 2013 from 6:00-8:00pm at the home, 159 Virginia Avenue, Danville, VA. Townes Funeral Home and Crematory, 215 West Main Street is serving the Leonard family.