Neida Riley Leak, 89, passed away on Sunday, August 20, at her home in Arab. Mrs. Leak was born in Somerville in Morgan County, Alabama, the last of 9 children, to John Joseph Riley and Eunice Myrtle Compton Riley, on March 20, 1928. She was a retired teacher / librarian and a long-time member of the Arab Church of Christ. Her family moved to Arab from the Somerville area when she was a teen and she soon became the head majorette in Arab High School’s first marching band. She later graduated from Central High School in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1946.
Mrs. Leak was married for 35 years to Arab’s William Clatis Leak(known to many as “Skinner”) until he preceded her in death in 1981. They lived for about 22 years in Michigan, before returning home to Alabama in 1969. She was also married briefly to Joe Rolfe of the Union community in Morgan County.
Mrs. Leak is remembered by many in the community for the years she served as Arab High School’s librarian and her membership in the Arab Literary Club. Her greatest joys were reading, singing, fresh food, traveling, and family. She never lost her faith in God and her undying belief in the importance of education. Accordingly, she held a life-long craving for knowledge and self-improvement that motivated her to obtain a Bachelor’s degree from Athens State and a Master’s degree from Jacksonville State in her 50s.
Mrs. Leak is survived by a large and growing extended family, including her 3 loving children: William Rhett Leak (Pam) of Arab; Susan Craft (Steve) of Arab; and Chris Leak of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. She also leaves behind 6 grandchildren: Joshua Phillips (Debbie) of Torrance, California; Lara Leak Caves (Earl) of Hammond, Louisiana; Jacob Phillips of Arab; Riley Craft Crawford (Steve) of Alexandria, Virginia; as well as Russell and Cati Leak of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In addition, Mrs. Leak is survived by 4 great-grandchildren: Dominic Cuneo of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Kai Phillips and Shelby Phillips of Torrance, California; and Bill Caves of Hammond, Louisiana. Very dear to her also are numerous cousins, nieces and nephews all around the country.
Funeral arrangements include visitation on Saturday, August 26, from 9:00-11:00 AM at Arab Heritage Funeral Chapel, 1340 N. Main St., Arab, Alabama. The funeral service will be there at 11:00 AM, Ken Tyler and Calvin Spurlin officiating. Interment will follow at Arab Memorial Cemetery.
The family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Arab High School Library or Arab Public Library in lieu of flowers.
