Obituary of William Leander Cleveland, Sr.

William Leander Cleveland, Sr., affectionately known as Lee, was born on September 20, 1954, to William H. Cleveland (Sonny) and Elsie Brown Walton. Lee joined the Second Antioch Baptist Church at an early age with his four sisters. He returned as an adult to serve as a drummer for the Second Antioch Baptist Church Choir. Lee began working at Alleghany Warehouse and remained there for over thirty years. In 2021, he retired from Powhatan Convenience Center. Lee was musically inclined to play several instruments. In his adult years, he played in the well-known band "Fire" at various local events in Powhatan and surrounding counties. He loved the outdoors and embraced the simplicity of life. Lee loved tending to his garden, fishing, and sharing his love for the outdoors with his children and grandchildren. Lee was kind-hearted, generous, and a true friend who would often put the needs of others before his own. His mother, sisters, and daughters will forever remember him ending his phone calls with "love ya, bye." He was preceded in death by his father, William H. Cleveland. Lee transitioned from this life to eternal rest on Friday, July 8, 2022. Lee leaves to cherish his memories: His mother, Elsie Walton; his children: LaTisha Pegram (Wayne), William Cleveland, Jr. (Jennifer), and Stephanie Cleveland-Jones (Thomas); grandchildren: Taiya, Mikaila, Michael "Mikey," Laila, William III "Liam," Khyren (Debra), Ahnayah, Thomas III "Tre"; great-grandchildren: Tyanah and Samiyah; four sisters, Joan Johnson (Willie "Skip"), Jean Ely, Brenda Epps (Harold), Linda Cleveland-Harris (Andrew); two brothers, Don Batchelor (Kim) and Alvin Gray; five aunts: Lillie Robinson, Florence Christian, Doreen Gillis, Frances Gillis, Jeanette Patrick; five uncles: Earl Brown, Edward Claude Brown (Shirley), Bobby Brown, James Brown, Linwood Gillis and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends among them special friends, Leon Jones, Jarvis Wingo and Thomas "Ned" Jones, Sr. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org