Jaretta Darlene Leonard, age 72, went to be with Jesus on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Darlene, had worn many titles in this life, “Wife”, “Mom”, “Mimi”, “Nanny”, “Teacher”, “Dar-Dar”, “Sissy” and “Friend.” Darlene was married to her high school sweet-heart and love of her life, Sherman Wesley Leonard, Jr “Wesley” for 53 years. They were married at the tender age of 18 and 19 in 1971 at Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Nashville Tennessee. Together, they created an incredible life of laughter, love and were equally yoked together with one always going in the same direction as the other. The couple had three children together.
Darlene was preceded in death by her mother, Bobbie Coggins, father, Edward Coggins, mother-in-law, “Granny” Mae Leonard, father-in-law, Sherman Wesley Leonard, Sr., her baby sister, Lisa Coggins, Uncle, Jimmy Coggins, and her oldest son, Sherman Wesley Leonard III “Trea”(Jessica Leonard). She is survived by her husband, Sherman Wesley Leonard, Jr., son, Stephen Edward Leonard (Rachel Leonard), and daughter, Andrea Nicole Mattox (Brooks Mattox), Five sisters, Kathy Gise (Gus Gise) nephew, Brandon Bogle, Wanda Dickerson, nephew Ben Wheeler, Sherri Driver (Ricky Driver), nephew Rick Driver, Misty Handy (Nate Handy) nephew and nieces, Aubrey, Ava, Asher Handy, and Kimberly Coggins, nephews Brandon and Alex Graves. She was also survived by the lights of her eyes, her 9 grandchildren! She loved her grandchildren with everything she had! Georgia Aragon (Rolando Aragon), Cade Leonard, Isaac Leonard, Ethan Leonard, Hayden Mattox, Gabe Leonard, Liam Mattox, Levi Mattox, and Sarah Leonard. She also had a huge extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She embodied the bible verse Corinthians 13: 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 13: 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
To know her was to love her. She was the definition of love. She will be greatly missed by so many!
Darlene will lay in state at Sellars Funeral Home in Lebanon, TN. 313 W Baddour Pkwy, Lebanon, TN 37087. The family will accept visitors on Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 12-4 p.m. Service will be Sunday, March 30, 2025 at 2 p.m. She will be laid to rest in the Leonard Family Cemetery at 6294 E Richmond Shop Rd, Lebanon, TN 37090 afterwards. Pallbearers: Isaac, Hayden, Ethan, Gabe, Cade, Jeb, Levi, and Stephen. All are welcome to attend.
Sellars Funeral Home, Lebanon TN, 615.444.9393.
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This obituary was published by Sellars Funeral Home.
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