A Celebration of Life for Richard Leon Moss, 60 of Decatur, will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Union Grove Primitive Baptist Church with The Reverend Doctors George W. Franklin and Donald L. Jones officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to funeral. Public viewing will be today from 2 to 6 and Monday from 10 to 7 at Reynolds Funeral Home.
Sunrise began for Richard Leon Moss on June 6, 1955 in Centralia, Illinois. He was the third child born to Frances Moss. On April 26, 2016, early Tuesday morning the sun set for Leon. He was educated in the Centralia School System. Leon confessed Christ at an early age and was of the Baptist faith.
Leon moved to Decatur, Alabama in 1976 to live with his Aunt Sue Edmondson. Upon moving to Alabama Leon married Shirley Gray, to this union one child, Twana was born; that union ended.
Leon worked construction for many years and was a self-employed contractor. In his younger years Leon was an avid baseball and basketball player, he won many awards. Leon loved to fish, shoot pool, play cards and hunt. His passion was cooking for his family, friends and community. At any time you could find Leon in the kitchen cooking or outside on the grill. He loved to entertain.
He is preceded in death by his grandmother, Emma Pauline Robinson Moss; mother, Frances Moss Birdo; aunt Sue Edmondson; sister Garcea Moss; two dear cousins, Maggie Moss, Sheila Horne and other relatives.
Leon leaves to cherish his memory his stepfather, William Birdo, of Los Angeles, California; daughter, Twana Green; son, Brandon Burgess (Sonya), both of Decatur; three brothers, Julius Moss, of Centralia Illinois, Terry Moss (Angi), of Franklin, Indiana, William Marco Birdo, of Gardena, California; three sisters, Marilyn McClain, of Riverside, California; Pheobe Moss, Emily Jones (Donald), both of Centralia, Il; one grandson, Brandon Burgess Jr., Decatur, Alabama; three granddaughters, Chelsey Townsend, Alaura Malone and Mercedes Burgess, all of Decatur, Alabama; a longtime friend, Johnny Thompson; special friends, Sheila Southward, Constance Ford and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Leon’s loving and giving spirit will forever be remembered. His absence leaves a tremendous void in the lives of those that knew and loved him.
Flowerbearers will be nieces. Honorary pallbearers will be nephews and pallbearers will be Stanley Thompson, Thomas Allen, Lawson Fletcher, Calvin King, Pleas Wynn and Torris Gholston.
