Obituary of Martha Faye Massie Shelnutt Leonard

Funeral services for Martha Faye Massie Shelnutt Leonard, age 92 of Newell will be held on Monday, December 16, 2024, at 1:00 PM at Benefield Funeral Chapel with John Davis, Wally Williamson and Allan Daniel officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Church of Christ Cemetery.

The family will receive friends for Visitation at the funeral home from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Monday before services begin.

Mrs. Leonard passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at her residence.

Survivors include one daughter, Stacey Waite of Newell; one son, William Curtis Leonard, Jr. of Nashville, TN; two grandchildren, Trae Leonard and Brandi Spear; four great grandchildren, Colin Curtis Spear, Cory Jaxson Spear, Charlotte Marie Leonard and William Chase Leonard; one sister, Ann McCord of Newell; three brothers, Blake Shelnutt of LaGrange, GA, Brooks Shelnutt of Franklin, GA and Brack Shelnutt of Heflin, AL; extended family, Alexandra Casey Austin and Benjamin Casey; several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was affectionately known to many as “Aunt Faye”.

Mrs. Leonard was born in Cherokee County, Alabama on June 25, 1932. The daughter of John Dorsey and Grace Richardson Shelnutt. She was a member of Oak Grove Church of Christ. A 1950 graduate of Woodland High School. She married William Curtis Leonard, Sr. in 1951. They were married for almost 50 years. They had two children, a son William Curtis, Jr. and a daughter, Stacey Andrea. Mrs. Leonard was employed as an electrical engineer for Marconi Avionics before retiring. She also worked for General Electric and Texas Instruments throughout her career. Mrs. Leonard, along with her husband were proprietors of Crossroads General Store in Morrison's Crossroads. She took care of the Casey children of Heflin, Alabama for 14 years. Mrs. Leonard enjoyed square dancing with the Oxford Swinging Stars with her special partner Tommy Downey and the Sassy Seniors Line Dancers. She also enjoyed researching her family genealogy as well as quilting with the Morrison's Crossroads Fire Department quilters.

Lifelong family friend Mary Bob Williams and many special memories with Ella Grubbs, Pat Skinner and Tommy and Brenda Johnson.

Pallbearers – Jackson Bowen, Jimmy Cofield, Trae Leonard, Eric McCord. Braxton Davis and Waylon Davis.

Honorary pallbearers – Danny Joe McCord and Jerry Murphy.

Mrs. Leonard was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William Curtis Leonard, Sr.; sisters, Lila Whitaker, Gail Higgins and Genelle Shelnutt; brothers, Bobby Shelnutt, Buck Shelnutt, Paul Shelnutt and Dean Shelnutt.

Memorials may be floral.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.benefieldwedowee.com.