Leslie Walton Gorman

Leslie Virginia Walton Gorman, age 71, passed away on Monday, September 16, 2019 after a short but fierce battle with lung cancer. She was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 24, 1948 to Haven and Elaine Walton. She spent her early years in Trinidad and Tobago, and it was there that her love of sunshine on her shoulders and sand between her toes was born. She moved to New Orleans at the age of 14 with her parents and fully immersed herself in the culture and love of all things NOLA. She graduated from Mount Carmel Academy and Louisiana State University. After graduation, she taught middle and high school in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge metro areas, but her love for travel led her to that industry. She owned several successful travel agencies and worked as a corporate agent with Carlson Wagonlit for more than 25 years.

At the age of 30, Leslie met the love of her life and the man who would become her husband, Byron P. Gorman of New Orleans, Louisiana. In a letter he wrote to her before his own untimely death in 1998, Byron told her “loving you was the best decision I ever made”. Their love was big and beautiful, and though she was fortunate to find love again later in life, she missed Byron and spoke of him often until the day she died.

You always knew exactly where you stood with Leslie. She liked you or she didn’t. She did not possess grey areas. If she liked you, though, she loved you with her whole heart and often sang your praises to anyone who would listen. She believed in hard work, loyalty, maintaining grace under pressure and that we should “get on with it”— “it” being this one beautiful shot at life we each get. Leslie was beautiful, but not just on the surface. She was funny, strong, witty and smart, and she possessed a quiet elegance. She loved poetry and love stories, black-and-white creature features and LSU football. She made an outstanding Old Fashioned and loved watching the sunset at the beach and singing along (mostly woefully off key) to Billy Joel songs. She was a fantastic human being, and she will be greatly missed.

Leslie is survived by her daughter, Laine Gorman, of Vieques, Puerto Rico; her honorary daughters, Iris Jastal, Raine Bonura Prado and Laurie Guidry Manning—all of whom she loved deeply and was extremely proud of—and many beautiful friends and coworkers. She is preceded in death by her parents, Haven and Elaine; her husband, Byron; her partner, P. Jeff Bennett; and the sweetest pit bull that ever lived, Teva Marie.

As per Leslie’s request, there will be no formal services. Instead, she preferred that those impacted by her life spend time in the presence of the living, making memories and seeking out joy. In lieu of flowers, please be kind. Call an old friend, forgive someone, make someone’s day. The world could use a little more kindness, and we would be honored if you did so in her memory.