Floyd Maurice Leath

Funeral services for Floyd M. Leath, Sr. 88, of Waynesboro will be held on Monday, April 4, 2016 at Green River Baptist church. Reese was born on July 28, 1927 in Canaan, Ms., the only child of dirt floor share cropper parents, Glendale and Cassie (Faulkenberry) Leath.

Reese passed away at his home on the Lawrenceburg Highway on Thursday, March 31 at the age of 88 years and 9 months, following a brief illness. He was a member of the Green River Baptist church in Waynesboro and also called Thousand Hills Cowboy Church in Ethridge, Tn. his church family. Reese was known in the community for his benevolence, kindness and encouragement toward students wanting to go on to college or trade school.

A retired United States Marine, Gunnery Sergeant Leath's military career spanned not one, not two but three wars, having served during World War II in the Panama Canal zone. He did two tours of duty in country in Korea and later did two tours of duty in Vietnam, both under combat conditions before retiring in July 1969. Among the medals GySgt Leath earned during his illustrious military career are the American Theater World War II medal; Korean War Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Korean Presidential Unit Citation and Good Conduct Medals. His most significant medal is the Combat Air Crew Medal with three Gold Stars. Reese joined the Marine Corps at the tender age of seventeen.

Recently the United Daughters of the Confederacy bestowed upon Reese three Crosses of Military Service, having successfully traced his lineal blood line back to his great grandfather, William Bascom Leath, who served in the 23rd Regiment of the Mississippi CSA Cavalry.

In the early 1980's Reese and his wife moved from California to Wayne County where they bought, restored and operated the Natchez Trace Motel and Restaurant for a number of years until the project to convert highway 64 into a four lane road razed the business. He was owner/operator of several filing/service stations in California and later was an owner/operator of several 18 wheelers, plying the highways of the country delivering goods and merchandise.

Floyd M.Leath, Sr. is survived by four sons: Floyd Leath, Jr. of Oklahoma City, Ok.; Randall Leath of Colton, California; John Steven Leath of Lake Elsinore, Ca. .; and Timothy Leath of Abilene, Tx., and two daughters, Annette Leath of Chico, Arizona and Debra Hagerman of Riverside, Ca. He also has a number of grandchildren and several great grand children.

Also surviving Mr. Leath is his companion and fiancee, Sunny Barnhart of Waynesboro.

His wife of 63 years passed away in 2012.

Until this recent illness Reese enjoyed playing golf and riding his Honda Trike with his beloved Sunny.

Several recent articles concerning the beautiful flag garden and the Bestowal ceremony appeared in the Wayne County News.

Mr. Leath was laid to rest in Waynesboro Memorial Gardens with full military honors as well as Masonic Rites.

At his request he would like memorial donations be made to the Butterfy Foundation in Waynesboro in lieu of flowers.