LaVonda Leesburg
1930 - 2018
LaVonda Leesburg
Wheelersburg-LaVonda Leesburg, 87, of Wheelersburg, passed away Friday, August 31, 2018 at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on Burns Road in Clarktown, Ohio on October 13, 1930 and was the daughter of Conrad and Jane Bailey. She was a graduate of Clay High School, Class of 1948. She started singing while still in high school with the Gospel Tones Quartet in 1947 appearing in churches around the Tri-State and also on the local radio stations WPAY and WNXT until 1954.
She met the love of her life, Charles Leesburg, during this time and they were married on April 15, 1949. In the early sixties she and her husband, along with their first child Debbie, began singing together as the Leesburg Family, being joined later by their two other children, Dan and Sheri. She also played piano for the Union Quartet and Union Trio through the years and also played piano at Union Free Will Baptist Church for over fifty years. She was known throughout the area for her baking skills and everyone always wanted her to bake one of her famous Chocolate Cream Filled Cakes or Pecan Pies among other things. LaVonda was a very caring and giving person, often helping others in their time of need, and was affectionately known among family members and friends as “Mother Teresa”. She also volunteered for many years with SOMC Hospice. She is survived by her two daughters, Debbie Ward (Dan) and Sheri Noel (Scott) and one son Dan Leesburg (Kathy); grandchildren, Josh Leesburg (Jessie), Jared Ward (Andrea), Elise Knight (Mitchell), Hilary Morrison (Seth), Hannah Noel, Jay Hurley (Jenna) and Jon Hurley; six great grandchildren Mia, Paige, Addy, Sydney, Autumn and Riley and one sister Delores Turner (Vaughn). She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Leesburg, one grandson, Justin Ward and one brother, Gene Bailey (Ivy). The family would like to thank the many loving and caring hospice nurses and staff who took such great care of mom in her last days, including Barbie Brown, who helped us with mom in our time of need. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to SOMC Hospice, 2201 25th Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662.
Funeral services will be 11:00 am Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at Union Free Will Baptist Church with Pastor Chris Oiler and Pastor Zack Conkel officiating. Interment will follow in Memorial Burial Park. The family will receive friends from 5:00-8:00 pm Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at Harrison-Pyles Funeral Home in Wheelersburg and one hour, at the church, before the 11:00 am service on Wednesday. Condolences to the family may be made at www.harrison-pyles.com.