Manuel Lee McLeod

Manuel Lee McLeod was born June 17, 1937 to Christopher and Mary McLeod in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was the ninth of eleven children. Manuel attended Dunbar Elementary and Carver Junior High school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1954 he moved to California and completed his high school education at Richmond Union High School in Richmond, CA in 1956. Manuel loved basketball and was a very good player. He was also a member of the track team.

He moved to Los Angeles where he met and married Freddia Bywaters of Tulsa, Oklahoma in June 1961. They had two children, Manuel Barry McLeod and Tiffany McLeod Marr. He was drafted into the Army Reserve in early 1961 and was honorably discharged in November 1966.

Manuel learned the food service trade from his cousin (Buster McKinney) and was a chef. He started his career working in restaurants in the Los Angeles area. He later worked as a hospital chef before transitioning to the catering business. He worked for over 30 years in the catering business serving guests at large events for over 300 people.

Manuel was a quiet and thoughtful man. One of his favorite things to say was “If you are too busy talking, you can’t learn anything”. He enjoyed watching basketball and listening to music. One of his favorite hobbies was to write songs. Manuel passed away on April 21, 2021 at the age of 83.

Manuel was preceded in death by his parents and all of his siblings. He is survived by his son Manuel B. McLeod (wife Nessa McLeod) and daughter, Tiffany McLeod Marr (husband Joshua Marr). Three granddaughters (Kaeli McLeod, Keyra McLeod and Michaela Marr) one grandson (Joshua Marr II) and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.