James Francis Leonard

Jim is an Ohio native who lived for many years in Macon, GA before retiring to St. Simons with his beloved wife of 48 years Susan J. Leonard. He is survived by his wife, his two sons Ryan Leonard of Douglasville, GA and Lindsey Leonard of Greenville, SC, and three grandchildren, Emma, Anna Parks and Logan.

Jim was an All-County football player at Jackson High School in Massillon, Ohio. He went on to play college football at the University of Cincinnati. Jim was inducted into the Jackson High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983. During their high school careers, Jim’s sons won State Championships in football, track, soccer and basketball, but never attained the level of athletic success of their father. For the sake of his legacy, they are thankful they did not.

Jim loved his sons and was ever-present throughout their lives. He attended every sporting event in which they ever competed. Jim taught his sons many things. He taught them how to throw and catch a football, shoot a basketball, mow grass, ride a bike, fish, hammer a nail, paint, saw a board, be on time and drink a beer. He also taught them hard work, honesty and perseverance. All three of these characteristics are demonstrated by his 56 year relationship with his wife Susan. Jim and Susan have been together since the 7th grade, marrying in 1965.

His most lasting legacy is that he taught his sons to be good people. He taught them this not by lecture – as it is impossible to compel another to be a good person – but by example. Jim never wronged anyone, never stepped on anyone else’s back to lift himself up. He was a man of honor who took his lumps in life because he was too kind to be cutthroat. Because of the path he chose he never attained the riches that many strive for, but his sons respected him nevertheless.

Jim epitomized the saying “the early bird gets the worm.” He spent much of his adult life waking up around 5:00 AM. This number became a more manageable 6:30 AM in his later years. Once he got up and dressed he wasn’t waiting around for the rest of the family, he “went to breakfast.” Some of his favorites included the Waffle House in Macon, Georgia, Cracker Barrel in Douglasville, Georgia and the Sandcastle Café and Café Frederica on St. Simons Island. A practice eventually developed wherein family members would wake up on weekends and holidays, hours earlier than optimal, simply to spend time with him during breakfast.

Jim’s family is thankful for many things about his life. They are thankful that he met his wife “Susie” at a young age and was unofficially adopted by her father Willis as the son he never had. They are thankful that he led an honest life. They are thankful that he never gave up during the tough times. They are thankful that he got the opportunity to retire, buy a house and live on his beloved St. Simons for several years before his death. They are thankful that he got to attend the weddings of both of his sons. They are thankful that he got to meet his three grandchildren. They are thankful that they got to spend a week with him during a family reunion two weeks prior to his passing. They are thankful that they told him how much he meant to them before he died.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to an organization focused on the preservation of the place that Jim loved, St. Simons Island. Please direct donations to: Tribute Gifts, St. Simons Land Trust, P.O. Box 24615, St. Simons Island, GA 31522.

Arrangements have been placed into the care of Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home and Oglethorpe Crematorium. You may visit Mr. Leonard’s online guestbook at www.edomillerandsons.com.