Charles Richard Leonard

Charles Richard Leonard, 81, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at his residence surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on October 1, 1944, in Forsyth County, NC to the late Earlie Franklin and Rosa Lee Phillips Leonard. Charles retired from R.J. Reynolds after 20 years. He was a lifelong lover of American Saddlebred Horse and Hackney Ponies, in and out of the show ring. Charles drove his pony, American Pride, to win a World Championship in the American Pony Division. He also served as president of the Southeastern Hackney Association. Charles was great with his hands and could fix or build anything put in front of him. He was a volunteer fireman and served as an assistant chief at Union Cross Volunteer Fire Department. Charles was a lifelong member of Union Cross Moravian Church, serving on the board of trustees and as a diener. He was a loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend who will surely be missed.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Brenda Leonard Denny. Those left to cherish Charles’ memory are his loving wife, Connie Leonard; two daughters, Charlene Leonard, and Catherine Jenkins (Dwight); two granddaughters, Lilly Hailey (Hunter), and Josie Jenkins; one great granddaughter, Mallory Hailey; two nieces and one nephew; and his four-legged friend, Billy.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Union Cross Moravian Church with the Rev. Adam Goodrich officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103, https://www.trellissupport.org/donate or Sunnyside Ministry, 319 Haled St, Winston-Salem, NC 27127, https://sunnysideministry.org/donate.