H. Stuart Leach

The Honorable H. Stuart Leach, Jr., died June 1, 2017. He was born December 14, 1930, in Fairfield, Alabama, and was raised in Utah, Hawaii and Alabama. He was preceded in death by his father, Howard Leach, and his mother, Fan Marshall Leach. Survivors include his beloved wife of 53 years, Cile Shepherd Leach; a son, Shepherd Alexander Leach; a daughter, Nancy Marshall Dunning (Michael); a granddaughter, Brittnie Lucile Colvard; a sister-in-law, Nancy Shepherd Christie; niece Catherine Christie Dellinger (Craig); and nephew J.S. "Chris" Christie, Jr. (Donna). Stuart attended Central Park Grammar School and graduated from Ensley High School in 1948. He graduated from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) in 1953. While at Auburn, he was a member of Spades and ODK honor societies and was listed in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon social fraternity. Following graduation from Auburn, Stuart served as an officer in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Japan during the Korean conflict until 1955. He entered the University of Alabama School of Law in the fall of 1955, graduating in January 1958. He was employed as a Legislative Assistant to United States Senator John J. Sparkman in Washington, D.C., from 1958-1961. He left Washington, D.C., to work as an attorney with the National Labor Relations Board in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1962, he returned to Birmingham and entered the private practice of law. He continued practicing law until elected to be a Judge in the Civil Division of the Jefferson County Circuit Court in January 1983. He was re-elected for two terms, serving 13 years, the last four as the Presiding Judge of the 10th Judicial Circuit. Judge Leach retired from the bench in January 1996, then serving as a Mediator with the Sirote Permutt law firm for many years. After Stuart returned to Birmingham, he met and married Cile Shepherd. They married in December 1964, the first wedding held at the former Highway 280 location of Briarwood Presbyterian Church. Stuart for over 50 years was a member of Briarwood, where he served as a deacon and elder and as a member of the Jethro Council. He held many Bible classes at his home. Stuart was good natured and loved his friends dearly. There was nothing more important to him than looking to his Lord for guidance and helping his family and friends. Burial service at Veterans Memorial in Montevallo, Alabama, on Friday, June 9, 2017, at 10:15 a.m. Visitation will be at Briarwood on Friday, June 9, 2017, at 2:15 p.m., with a Memorial Service at Briarwood at 3:00 p.m. Condolences may be left at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to The Mercy Ministry at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, 2200 Briarwood Way, Birmingham, Alabama 35243.