Shirley Leavens at 84 years old passed away on Aug. 27, 2022 in Cumming.
She was predeceased by her father, Charles Sanford; her mother, Nora Sanford; and her husband, John Leavens, Sr. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, John Leavens and Harriet Cherry, Gwen Leavens; and Tricia and Eric Heard; two grandchildren, Charlie and Emily Olson; and a sister, Kathy Garner, and her two sons, Jason and Brendan Garner.
Shirley and John lived in the College Park/East Point area where she and John ran Auto Frame Service until his death in 1993. They also had a home in Clayton, Ga., where Shirley was active in the community and lived for over 35 years. Shirley was always involved with her children’s lives participating in Rabun County Band Boosters, Boy Scouts, and Camp Fire Girls. She followed this trend of involvement with her grandchildren becoming involved in LEGO league, establishing an acolyte program at Saint James Episcopal Church, and attending their plays at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.
She volunteered in her community serving as a phone operator for FAITH, Clayton Garden Club member, Georgia Homemakers Club, and Bosom Buddies Support Group for Breast Cancer in Clayton. She was an active member of the choir at Saint James Episcopal Church, volunteered at the Rabun County Elementary School as an advocate for underprivileged children, sang in the Piedmont Choir twice a year at Christmas and Easter, and was a member of Daughters of the King at Saint James Episcopal Church. Shirley also formed a knitters club that knitted hats for babies in the NICU at Scottish Rite in Atlanta and prayer shawls for people in the community who were sick.
Her memorial service will be at Saint James Episcopal Church, Clayton, on Sept. 10, 2022, at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, Shirley requested donations be made to Saint James Episcopal Church or to Community Pantry, Inc (https://www.communitypantry.org/).
Ingram Funeral Home in Cumming is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be made at www.ingramfuneralhome.com.
The Clayton Tribune
September 8, 2022