Leila Jalil Salah

Leila Salah, 86, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 14th, 2017. She was born in Ramallah, Palestine, where she met and married her husband, Jalil. They married in 1950 and immigrated to the United States in 1952 with their firstborn daughter to build a better life for their family. They settled in Jacksonville, Florida, where Leila became a charter member of the Ramallah Club of Jacksonville, as well as a devoted congregant of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church. In addition, Leila was a savvy entrepreneur with her husband and started multiple successful businesses, including owning a neighborhood grocery store on Gilmore Street, opening and operating Jerry’s Sandwich Shop for almost 20 years, and most recently owning and managing Hendricks Plaza in San Marco. Leila enjoyed reading, cooking Arabic food, knitting clothes for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and most importantly, spending time with her family. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, caring sister, proud grandmother, doting great-grandmother and friend to many.

Leila is preceded in death by her sister, Farha Mogannam, and granddaughter, Ashley Bateh. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Jalil; brothers, Salah, Isam, and Husam; sisters, Suad, Salwa, Abla, Ibtisam, and Khawlah; son, Jack (Judy); daughters, Maha (Kamel), Jane (Farris), and Donna (Raymond); 11 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors on Tuesday, January 17th from 6-7 p.m. at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 6300 Bowden Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32216, with the Trisagion service beginning at 7 p.m. The funeral service will also take place at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church on Wednesday, January 18th at noon, with The Very Reverend Archpriest Fr. Kamal Al-Rahil officiating, followed by the interment at Greenlawn Cemetery, 4300 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207. Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com

HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family.