Phyllis Sonya Nifong Leonard

Phyllis Nifong Leonard, 81, of Lexington, North Carolina passed away on March 1st, surrounded by family. A service to honor and celebrate Phyllis’ life will be held at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, March 6th at Paul’s Chapel Church in Lexington, NC. The service will be conducted by Reverend Aaron Long. The burial will follow at the church cemetery. The family will see friends after the service in the church fellowship hall for a reception.

Phyllis was born on July 23rd, 1942 to Levi and Elma Nifong. She grew up in the Arcadia community and attended North Davidson Senior High School. She was employed as a teacher’s assistant at Welcome Elementary School. She often shared stories about her love for the children and the teachers there. She worked at Wake Forest Family Medicine for 25 years, retiring as Supervisor of the Records Room. She made friendships there that would last a lifetime.

Phyllis was a committed and active member of Paul’s Chapel Church where she served as Vice President and President of Church Women, a church hostess, a captain of a bereavement group, and sang in the church choir. She was someone who could be counted on to help in any way. She loved her church and her church friends were family to her.

She married the love of her life, Pete Leonard, in 1991. They enjoyed traveling, golf, and spending time together. Phyllis loved trips to the beach with her friend Sue, reading, working puzzles, gardening, and weekly outings with church friends and the pastor. Phyllis’ greatest joy, however, was her family. She was happiest when she spent time with her three sons and their families. From attending numerous sporting events to making her oreo dessert, she was always devoted to them.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Pete Leonard, her son Chris Briggs, and her sister Becky Crawford.

Left to cherish her memory are her two sons, Wayne Briggs (Cindy) of Arcadia and Greg Briggs (Sara) of Welcome; daughter-in-law, Shannon Briggs of Arcadia; a step-daughter Amy Parrish Leonard of Atlanta, GA. Also surviving Phyllis are six grandchildren, Trey Briggs (Anna) of Arcadia, NC, Taylor Briggs (Tanner) of Clemmons, NC, Meredith Briggs Beam (Garrett) of Charlotte, NC, Wyatt Briggs (Melissa) of Vail, CO, Thomas Briggs (Savannah) of Salt Lake City, UT, Jillian Briggs (Bobby) of Winston-Salem, NC, and three great grandchildren, Chandler, Salem, and Lennox Briggs.

Although Phyllis has departed from this world, her memory will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. Memorials may be made to Paul’s Chapel Church of Lexington, NC.