Lessie Leon Bernard, Jr.
Lessie Leon Bernard, Jr., age 81, died December 19, 2021.
Leon was a native of Portsmouth, VA and the son of the late Lessie L. and Rosalie Adams Bernard. He was preceded by his wife of 52 years, Elizabeth Jordan Bernard, and his precious cat Roxy.
Leon was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth, attended College of William & Mary (Norfolk Division) and was a graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in Ohio. He was a licensed funeral director, embalmer and a Vice President of Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home & Snellings Funeral Home for 61 years.
He proudly served the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, the nation’s first nuclear powered aircraft carrier, during the Vietnam War, and Nuclear Task Force One’s “Round-the-World” cruise, better known as Operation Sea Orbit.
He was a member of the Episcopal Church, a founding member and past president of the Norfolk Commodore Chorus, member of the Chorus of the Chesapeake (Dundalk, MD), SPPBSQS Chesapeake Lodge #3, Eagle Scout Association, Norfolk Yacht & Country Club, past Commodore of Tidewater Boat Club, Norview Masonic Lodge #113 and Portsmouth Scottish Rite Bodies.
Leon is survived by two sons, son Mark Wesley Bernard and his wife Sonia, granddaughter Jordan Bernard Box (Brandon) of Senoia, GA, Tyler Thomas (GA), Lucas Thomas (NC) and step-grandchildren Derrick Lackore (NC), Ashley Lackore (NC); and son Todd Leslie Bernard and his fiancée Kim, three grandchildren Tyler Patrick Bernard, Matthew Christopher Bernard and Caitlin Marie Bernard of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and cousins William (Bill) A. Bernard (Carol), W. Floyd Cross (Gloria), Geri Wilkins (Doug), Linda Farrington (Gary) and Zane Hoy.
A funeral service will be conducted at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Tidewater Drive Chapel on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at 11:00 AM officiated by the Rev. Ernest L. Trueblood. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will be held 10:00 AM Thursday, December 23, 2021 at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk.
Memorial donations may be made to Norfolk S.P.C.A., Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, American Cancer Society or charity of choice. Condolences can be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.
In Remembrance
Service of Remembrance 2019
