Rev. Leon Jackson Boone, 78, a native of Portsmouth Virginia, passed away on September 2, 2017. Born on January 17, 1939 in Holland, Virginia, he was the son of the late Mozell Boone and John Thomas Knight. His wife of 59 years, the former Shirley Marie Williams, has inspired him greatly. He believed that it is only with the supportive, accepting atmosphere of God and his wife that his ministry became fully effective and powerful.
Rev. Boone grew up in the Mt. Hermon community. He attended I.C. Norcom High School. He received a Bachelor’s Degree of Theology from Antioch Bible College out of Norfolk, Virginia. He attended Union Christian Bible Institute out of Durham N.C. and Virginia Union Extension out of Richmond, VA. He served on the Portsmouth Better Beginning Coalition and the Pregnant Teens Program in Portsmouth, VA.
Rev. Boone served as Vice President of Teamster Union Local 822 Norfolk, VA before becoming Pastor of Celestial Baptist Church. Rev. Boone was an involved Pastor who worked untiringly to make a positive impact on the lives of others. In 1972 he was awarded a certificate of appreciation from Police Chief C.L. Warren.
On March 31, 1981 Rev. Boone was inspired to start a Radio Gospel Airway. He started a Radio Ministry for the second time.
On November 19, 1981, Rev. Boone started The Gospel Begins at Home Ministry, a food and clothing ministry to help the needy located at 3040 High St. in Portsmouth, VA.
In 1989 Rev. Boone served on the Human Relations Commission. A new panel aimed to calm the city’s racial tension. He was chosen as Vice Chairman.
In 1991 Rev. Boone was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Portsmouth City Council.
Rev. Boone has served in the following organizations. He was one of the founders and first Chairman of the Portsmouth Community Health Center. He served on the City of Portsmouth Board of Zoning Appeals (past and present), Portsmouth Public School Health Advisory Committee and the Interdenominational Minister’s Forum. It was organized during the mid thirties. Rev. Boone was the first person to become President twice in the organization in 1991. He was also a member of Metro Baptist Minister’s Conference in Norfolk, VA.
Education was very important to Rev. Boone. He worked aggressively to see that all young people received a good education regardless of race. As President of the Interdenominational Minister’s Forum he started their first scholarship Banquet on December 23, 1991.
January 10, 1992 the Honorable Judge Billy Moore invited Rev. Boone in the Commonwealth of VA House of Delegates to offer a prayer in the House.
Rev. Boone received a letter from Mayor Gloria Webb for his stand on the benefits of an at large system for elected School Board members. The letter was received on December 26, 1995.
February 7, 2000 the Honorable House of Delegates Attorney Johnny S. Joannou invited Rev. Boone to the House of Delegate to give a prayer for the 2000 session.
On January 18, 2002, Sherriff Gary W. Waters presented Rev. Boone with an appreciation award for his service to Local Law Enforcement in the city of Portsmouth VA.
In 2002 Rev. Boone was inspired by God to start a TV Ministry and God sent him Bobby Cullipher to make it happen. He took him in like a son. The TV Ministry lasted nine years.
April 27, 2003 Portsmouth School Board awarded Rev. Boone a certificate of appreciation for his service at Churchland Academy Elementary School. Superintendent David Stuckwisch and Doctor Elizabeth Hudgins Board Chair.
Rev. Boone was inspired by God to start a Scholarship Ministry. It did not matter whether the graduates were 4.2 or 2.0 when they graduated. There was not division with race. He said there must be a mixture of students before anyone could receive a Scholarship from the Leon J. Boone Program. He said that’s the way God insured him. The late Mrs. Martha Lee made the first donation. The first Leon J. Boone Scholarship program was April 13, 2007 through April 23, 2010.
In June 2007 God inspired Rev. Boone to open a Child Day Care with the help of friends and his granddaughter Tawanna Stancil Boone. On June 2, 2008, the Child Day Care center opened.
On December 5, 2008, I.C. Norcom High School Elected Rev. Boone into the I.C. Norcom Athletic Hall of Fame.
In 2015 Sheriff Bill Watson appointed Rev. Boone as the Chaplain of the Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office.
Rev. Boone was the author of “Being Black in America” and “Be Who you want to be”. He was also working on his third book “Something in the Wind” that will be out in November 2017.
Rev. Boone received a proclamation from the City of Portsmouth on April 30, 2015 by Former Mayor Kenneth Wright as the “Leon Jackson Boone Day” for the City of Portsmouth.
He was preceded in death by his mother Mozell Boone and father John Thomas Knight. His mother in law Emma Marie Williams and father in law Willie Walter Lee Williams.
He leaves to cherish his memories: his wife Shirley Williams Boone, his children, Arnitra Boone DeBerry (Moran Billups, III), Shelby Marie Boone, Leon Jackson Wilson, Ronnie Wilson, Rhonda Wilson; grandchildren, Tawanna Stancil Boone, Bobby DeBerry, Jr., Ronald Leon Boone, III, Leon Jackson Boone, IV, Leon D. Harrison. Great-grandchildren Alexis Yvette Stancil, Jalah Marie Stancil, Jalen Leon Stancil, Markel Leon Hill, Kamari Leon DeBerry, India Gatling, Bobby DeBerry, III, Teigen DeBerry and Ra’Niya Marie Boone; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Viewing will be held on Thursday, September 7, 2017, from 12 Noon to 8 pm, and a wake service will be held on Thursday from 6 pm to 8 pm at Corprew Funeral Home, 1822 Portsmouth Blvd., Portsmouth, VA 23704. A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 8, 2017, 11 am at New Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, 2111 High Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704. Interment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Chesapeake, VA.