Leola McIver was born July 4, 1925 in Clio, South Carolina. She was the loving daughter of Willie & Lucinda Johnakin. She moved with her parents to New York when she was 14 where she attended and graduated from Girls High School in Brooklyn, NY.
She married and had one child, Barbara, and became a stay-at-home mom for most of her years taking an occasional part-time job. Leola began working full-time at Chemical Bank in lower Manhattan in a clerical capacity until her department moved to Long Island at which time, she chose early retirement.
Leola was a member of Berean Baptist Church in Brooklyn for many years and helped to take care of her parents until their deaths. Later, she moved to Mint Hill to be near her daughter and grandchildren.
Leola, also known as Lee, Grandma Lee, and GG by family or Ms. Lee by her community friends, was fiercely independent, sharp witted with a lively sense of humor. She was an avid reader and enjoyed keeping up with her favorite shows All My Children, Golden Girls and Joel Olsteen just to name a few. In her baking days, she was known for her sweet potato pies and corn bread. Some of Leola's favorite foods were fried green tomatoes, coconut cake, meatloaf, and a good fish sandwich.
An animal lover, she adopted several cats over the years, including Penny for her companion in recent years. Leola loved visiting with her family and friends until the Lord called her home on the evening of Sept. 23rd at Novant Medical Center.
She is survived by her daughter, Barbara; three grandchildren, Thomas III and his wife Gessie; Nicolette and her husband Rob and Suzette and her husband Kevin; and six great -grandchildren, Nina, Miles, Sedona, Emma, Thomas IV and Kyle.
A visitation will be held from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at McEwen Funeral Service-Mint Hill Chapel with a funeral service to follow at 4:00 pm.
A private family burial will be held at Pinelawn Memorial Park And Arboretum in Farmingdale, NY.
Condolences may be offered online at www.mcewenminthillchapel.com.
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