James Lebern Leathers, 91, died Friday, April 1, 2016, at the Countrywood Plantation Assisted Living in Mantachie. He was born April 28, 1924, to Ivy and Ureath Cox Leathers. He was a member of the Friendship United Methodist Church. He was a Veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy. He was a self-employed mechanic until 1962, when he became a Game Warden for the Mississippi Game and Fish Commission. He retired in 1982, after 20 years, from the State of Mississippi. He then concentrated on his true passion, and became a full-time cattle farmer. He was an avid fisherman.
Services will be at 11:00 a. m. Monday, April 4, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Fulton with Bro. Terry Paul Graham and Bro. Danny Horton officiating. Burial will be in the Itawamba Memoria Gardens.
Survivors include one son, Don Leathers (Debi) of Iuka ; one granddaughter, Kristi Rogers (Dave) of Pass Christian, MS; two grandsons, Dustin Leathers of Atlanta, GA and Preston Leathers (Kala) of Iuka; two great-granddaughters, Presley Kate Leathers and Emerson James Leathers of Iuka; the mother of his grandsons, Jan Lancaster of Tupelo and Pam Dallas of Pontotoc, respectively; three sisters Lynn Miller (Tom) of Tupelo, Quin Pounds (Hoyle) of Marietta, and Faye Vinson of Tupelo; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Verlene Leathers; one son, Gary Leathers; three brothers, Drewy Leathers, D.D. “Dot” Leathers, and Dane Leathers; two sisters, Mary Nell Senter and Polly Nelson; and his parents.
Pallbearers will be Boyd Cowart, N.T. Clayton, Rickey Leathers, Drew Lumsden, Ben Elmore, and Tim Nelson.
Visitation will be from 5:00 -8:00 Sunday night at McNeece-Morris Funeral Home in Fulton.
Online condolences and a guest book can be accessed at www.mcneecemorrisfuneralhome.com.
