Daddy has been in my life and a father to me and my younger sister Bernisa since I was 4 years old when he met my mother. I vividly remember their first date. My sister and I were sitting in the back seat of his burgundy Ford Mustang. They went to White Castle. Lol. And I remember they were so involved with each other talking that they forgot about us. So I got to do whatever I wanted to do while sitting in the back. So what did I do? I loaded my burger with a packet of salt for no apparent reason other than the fact that I could, and nobody stopped me. It was horrible. The worst burger in my life. I couldn't eat it. Never did that again. Lol. From that day on, he never left from my life. I have so many cherished memories of him and all that he has done of all of us. The time he spent with us. The gifts he constantly gave us. His choice of music. His cooking. His words. His counsel. It all shaped my life. He took us all by the hand and took us with him on his road to the future. He was our ambassador to our new life. Him and my mother gave us two little brothers. They had two tall handsome sons together, Tavares and Damein. I always wished I was tall like them. Lol. 

Daddy was a great provider and protector. I always called him daddy until the last time I saw his face, just days before he passed. I got a chance to speak to him on a cell phone while looking through a glass door where he was in care facility. I hated with a passion not being able to hug him because of the restrictions we are living through. He asked me to run to the store for some of his favorite snacks; potato chips and cheese popcorn. So I did and thankfully got to spend a little bit more time with him.

All of my life daddy taught me to be independent and to plan for the future, to value money and to take care of my family. Daddy was an amazing man. He was cultured and loved and lived life to the fullest. He knew how to stop and "smell the roses", to slow down and enjoy the now. As I write, everything is hitting me all at once. All the lessons unspoken. All the lessons he taught by action and by just being him. 

Things that you will always find my father doing are the things he loved; cooking, enjoying fine food & spirits, listening and dancing to his music, watching a good movie or ball game, grilling, watering his garden, grass and flowers, traveling around the world, taking pictures, listening to others, and breaking bread with family and friends.

Since his passing I have spoken with many people that knew him from high school, a cousin, co-worker or a neighbor. There is a common thread with all of them. They all say he was a very kind person, always helpful, selfless, easy to talk to and fun to be around and they always had long conversations with him. They went on and on about him and felt they just could not say enough. I spent hours on the phone listening to how wonderful my father was and the impact he had on all of them from a family member to someone who was a local store owner he frequented to someone who sat next to him in dialysis. Everyone he touched felt better than they did before. EVERYONE LOVED LEONARD

My father was also a very courageous man and didn't roll over and take anything from anyone. I have many stories to attest to that. He was never a "yes man". He was proud and strong. Proud of his heritage, proud his family and all of their accomplishments in life no matter what they did. He often spoke out against injustices in the world and shared his experiences with us children. I payed attention to everything. I learned from him and valued all of his words, now more than ever. His memory is my treasure now. 

Daddy I love you and miss you dearly and wish you were still here. I will forever love you for taking two little fatherless children out of the Jeffries Projects in as your own, and giving them a life and new family they would have never had. You gave us an auntie, uncles, cousins and a wonder grandma and grandpa and great grandma "Big Mama". Thank you for being there for us all of our life. Thank you for choosing us and sticking with us through the thick and the thin. Thank you for being a wonderful, warm and loving grandfather to my children. We all look forward to seeing you again soon when "...The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear His voice and come out” - John 5:28,29

Your son,

Sotero