Reverend Leonidas "Lon" Downs

Rev. Leonidas “Lon” McRae Downs passed away on October 10, 2025, surrounded by family. Lon was born July 7, 1938 to John William Downs and Elizabeth Emerson (McRae) Downs in Lexington, Mississippi. At age 17 he enlisted in the US Navy, in which he eventually rose to the rank of CTMC before retiring with twenty years of service. One of his early duty stations was Norfolk, Virginia, where he reconnected with Evelyn Dell Armstrong, also of Lexington. They married on June 10, 1962, and had a son the following March. Transfers to Rota. Spain (and another son), Yokohama, Japan and Pensacola, Florida, among others followed. In Pensacola, Lon was ordained a deacon at McIlwain Memorial Presbyterian Church. He also earned an Associate’s Degree from Pensacola Junior College, then a Bachelor’s Degree from Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi and a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.

While in St. Louis, Lon and Evelyn were instrumental in founding Westminster Christian Academy. Later, Lon served as an administrator at French Camp Academy in French Camp, Mississippi. While there, he began to preach part time at First Christian Church in Greenwood, Mississippi. After Evelyn died in 1995, he was ordained full time pastor for that congregation. He married Rose (Crumby) Cade in 1996. When Rose died in 2000, Lon began teaching grief counseling workshops in Jackson, Mississippi. Here he met Runez (Carter) Owen. The two of them moved to Goodlettsville, Tennessee, where they were married on July 24, 2004.

Lon and Runez pursued numerous mission trips with church groups to nations as diverse as Uganda, Nigeria, Argentina and Peru, frequently with their granddaughter, Elle Downs and daughter, Cindy Owen, as well as mission work here in his own community. His entire life was marked by a heart of relentless service, exuberant optimism and down-to-earth charm which he lavished upon anyone who came near him, whether they expected it or not.

Lon is predeceased by his parents, wife Evelyn Downs, brother Frank G. Downs, Brother Edward “Ned” Downs, son William Brian Downs (MAJ, USAF) and wife Rose (Cade) Downs. He is survived by his wife, Runez (Owen) Downs, son Frank Downs and wife Susan (Harrington) Downs, daughter Lisabeth “Beth” Downs Holmes and husband Ken Holmes, and bonus daughter Cindy Owen, and grandchildren Chandler, Elle and Bailey Downs.

A visitation for Lon will be held Wednesday, October 15, 2025 from 10:00am to 1:00pm at Brentwood Roesch Patton Funeral Home, 9010 Church Street East, Brentwood, TN 37027, followed by a funeral service beginning at 1:00pm. Services will be live streamed via Facebook at Brentwood-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home's Facebook page beginning at 1:00pm.