Pamela Joy Williams Leaberry

Pamela Joy Williams Leaberry- 62 – Passed away February 6, 2018 after a brief but gallant fight with cancer. Pam was born April 27, 1955 in Huntington, WV. Her family moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL in 1967. She attended Sunrise Junior High and graduated from Fort Lauderdale High in 1973. She was very involved in all school activities. She developed a true love of tennis under the tutelage of Jimmy Everett at Holiday Park (her home away from home during high school).

Pam was raised a Christian and accepted Christ in her life at First Baptist Fort Lauderdale. She was active in her church youth group: trips traveling, witnessing, singing and spreading the love of Jesus around the world. She remained a Christian her entire life. She was a graduate of Florida State University (Bobby Bowden’s biggest fan. Go Noles!) Pam was an active member of the Florida Beta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She received her Masters in Guidance and Counseling in 1979 and Education Leadership in 1988 from Florida Atlantic University. She felt called by Christ to her position as Guidance Counselor and did her best to bring out the best in every child. She loved her job and the interaction it brought with the children she was able to help. She was an active member of the Florida School Counselor Association.

Pam began her 35-year career with Broward Schools at Northside Elementary, moving next to Driftwood Elementary on the Seminole Indian reservation, then moved to Coral Park Elementary in Coral Springs. Her last 19 years of employment were spent at Sandpiper Elementary in Sunrise Florida.

Pam was an avid long-distance runner. Her first race was the Zachariah Family Heart Run in 1978 and over the next 40 years, she finished over 20 marathons including 6 Boston Marathons, 6 Marine Corp Marathons, Disney, San Francisco, and Seattle, and hundreds of other half marathons and 10ks. She finished 6 half marathons during the last year of her life. She loved cooking and baking and made every family holiday meal an event. She loved to travel and experience new places. She spent the summers in her early years in education traveling to all parts of the United States and Europe with teacher friends. She learned to play golf later in life and became a dedicated golfer, enjoying the game and the nature she encountered along the many different courses she played. For the last 15 years she and her husband entertained family members at their summer home - horseback riding, hiking, zip lining and white-water rafting in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains. She was grateful for the enjoyable times she spent with her many friends and family members all of whom she dearly loved.

Pam is survived by her loving husband of 25 years, John F. Leaberry. She is also survived by her mother, Jo Ann Williams of Fort Lauderdale FL and her brother, Kenneth G. Williams II and special niece and nephew, Emily and Konnor Williams, of Davie, Florida. She is further survived by 8 other nieces and nephews from across the country. She was preceded in death by her father and running mentor, Kenneth G. Williams, a Purple Heart recipient from his service in Korea and who is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

A memorial service celebrating Pam’s life will be held at First Baptist Church, 301 East Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday, February 17, 2018.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society, 3363 W. Commercial Blvd., Suite 100, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309.