Justin Matthew Leonard

Justin Matthew Leonard passed away on April 18, 2024 at the age of 8 after a courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) - an aggressive form of blood cancer. Justin is survived by his parents, Courtney and Matt Leonard; his best friend and older sister Audrey Leonard; his dog Rocky; his favorite stuffed animals and trusted companions Bear and Puppy; and a large circle of extended family including grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins.

Justin’s persona was one of joy and happiness. He had the most infectious smile and a laugh that would make an entire room join him in laughter. He was intelligent, his memory could rival that of an elephant’s. He was insightful and had a quick, witty sense of humor. Justin was truly a music lover; playing the drums, learning the guitar and piano, and listening to a wide range of music from The Beatles and Queen to Coldplay and Imagine Dragons. He was a masterclass LEGO builder that could not get enough race cars to build.

Justin loved sports cars including the exotic Bugatti, McLaren, Ferrari, and Lamborghini and could spot/name a sports car from a mile away while his parents squinted to catch a glimpse. Justin enjoyed playing football with the neighborhood kids, playing soccer with his U8 team, and four square with his friends. An avid sports fan, Justin enjoyed attending all types of sporting events including football, soccer, basketball, hockey, baseball, lacrosse, and NASCAR. His favorite teams were the Atlanta Falcons and United, cheering them on to victory. He liked sitting down to play board games with friends/family. Justin liked to play the lottery, trying to win that $1B jackpot. He finished reading/listening to the seventh Harry Potter novel and then started all over again. Justin was a true Gryffindor; honest, funny, and brave to the end.

Justin’s life on earth was cut short way too early. He will be forever loved and missed by his family, friends, and those that he touched!

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 4th at 2 pm at H.M. Patterson & Son - Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Road NE Brookhaven, Georgia 30319. A reception will be held after. The family asks that attendees wear a red accessory, in honor of Justin's favorite color. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cancer Research (https://www.choa.org), Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlanta (https://armhc.org), CURE Childhood Cancer (https://curechildhoodcancer.org/), and Make-A-Wish Georgia (https://wish.org/georgia).