Ms. Vanessa Leonard

Obituary

Ms. Vanessa Leonard was born September 26, 1960, in Birmingham, Alabama spending most of her life in Coosa
County, Alabama. Vanessa passed away on March 11, 2024, at the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital.
Vanessa joined New Home Missionary Baptist Church in Hissop, Alabama, at an early age, where she was an
active member of the Sunbeam, Junior Mission, Matrons, and Morning Star District. She served as a Legal
Advisor to the New Home Missionary Baptist Church Trustee Board and taught Sunday School, and classes at
the Morning Star District Congress of Christian Education where she served as youth director. She had a deep
love for the Lord and served Him through church affiliations by being a Christian educator of young people. She
lived out this passion through mentorship and creating opportunities for the youth she encountered.
Vanessa was educated in the Coosa County School System, graduating from Coosa County High School in 1978
as class valedictorian. Vanessa then furthered her education as various universities: the University of Alabama
(B.S. in Healthcare Management-1983), the University of Mississippi (M.B.A.-1992), and the University of
Alabama School of Law (J.D.-1995).
Vanessa’s work history includes working at Emory University as a Financial Analyst, at the International Firm
KPMG as a Senior Consultant and Manager for Higher Education, and as Assistant Attorney General for the
Coosa County Human Resource Department. She was the owner and founder of Leonard Mitchell Consulting,
allowing her to carry out her passion every day.
Vanessa served on several boards: Protective Life Corp., the University of Alabama Board of Trustees for the
Sixth Congressional District, Health Care Authority for Baptist Health, the UAB Education Foundation, Task
Force to Strengthen Alabama Families, Shiloh Project, Inc., and previously served on the Lake Martin Area
United Way Board. Vanessa provided consulting services for various not-for-profit organizations.
Vanessa was additionally affiliated with numerous organizations: alumna of Leadership Alabama, Cottage Grove
Chapter 313 Order of Eastern Star, and others.
Vanessa received several awards in her lifetime, including Yellowhammer’s 2022 Woman of Impact, and was
inducted into the Hall of Honor for the University of Alabama Law School in 2024.
Vanessa was preceded in death by her father, Rev. Earlie Lee Leonard, and she leaves to cherish her memories,
her mother Mrs. Lillian Leonard of Rockford, Alabama; Two brothers, Rev. Irvin (Wanda) Leonard of Florence,
Alabama, DeJarvis (Karen) Leonard of Kellyton, Alabama; one sister, Melissa (Michael) Roseman of Rockford,
Alabama; She also leaves to cherish her memory nieces and nephews, Marlon Terrell Bankhead, Wanishea
(Fred) Wilkins, Ivory (Russell) Sirmans, Brittany (Nick) Hogan, DeJarvis II (Scotti Michele) Leonard, Ashley
(Maurice) Grace, Aliyah Roseman; and a host of relatives and friends.
If we could speak to our Aunt today ...
A Tribute to our Aunt Vanessa: “A Life Lived with Purpose”

Aunt Vanessa you are a gift to us. The strength and confidence that we embody has allowed us to grow and work with
integrity for our callings in life, and you contributed to that resolve. You taught us to consistently and proactively educate
ourselves as we live out God’s purpose for out lives with continued reliance on Him. Even in the face of great adversity,
we hold our heads high. We know that God’s strength and our submission to Him will carry us through this season and
to the next. To us and others, you generously exposed all to new experiences and ideas, which allowed us to connect our
dreams to reality, as we remained steadfast. As your nieces and nephews, we were privileged to connect with you and learn
from you in ways that were unique to us. You reached out and gave us a glimpse behind the curtain of excellence. Here,
we learned, had candid conversations, and moved to drive and pursue more. While we rarely met your high standards, it
taught us to keep striving for more and greater no matter the adversity.
You left us a legacy or resilience, hope, and opportunity. We will honor this legacy with hearts of integrity and efforts laced
with the drive we have gleaned from you. Most of all, the dedication to accurately study God’s Word will always guide our
decisions. Love is an action, and your actions toward us was your way of loving us. We truly appreciate you and love you.

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