Obituary of Jonnie McLeod

Dr. Jonnie Horn McLeod, MD Dr. McLeod, of Charlotte, died July 19, 2011 at Southminster in Charlotte. She was born October 30, 1923 in Lucedale, Mississippi, to Dr. John William Horn and Zula Thigpen Horn. Growing up in rural south Mississippi, she loved to help her father care for patients and deliver babies, was active in Rocky Creek Baptist Church, and starred on the high school basketball team. She attended Sophie Newcomb College at Tulane University and Tulane University School of Medicine, where she trained as a pediatrician. She married Dr. William Leslie McLeod in 1950, and moved to Charlotte in 1953. Dr. McLeod was known for her accomplishments in the community. She once listed her numerous commitments in an attempt to scale back, and spelled out her priorities: ?to help the needy, the lonely, empty rich, those who do not know how to use their own talents, change policies or laws, influence people in power for the good of the majority, or simply perhaps elevate us into more God-like humanity.? Some highlights of her career include selection as the WBT Woman of the Year; an honorary degree from Davidson College; founding Open House, which later became the McLeod Addictive Disease Center; starting the Charlotte Drug Education Center; serving several governors on the NC Drug Commission; and serving on the faculty of UNC Charlotte. She was devoted to her husband and children, then her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who lovingly called her ?Ghi.? Over the years, she and Leslie took many others into their home and family. She loved to cook gumbo for a big crowd, to can home grown vegetables, and to sing and play the piano. Because she wanted to expose her children to the wider world, she took them on a 13,000 mile cross-country trip with a pop up camper in tow. She built a log house at her beloved Skye Farm, where she and Leslie found a weekend retreat and hosted countless gatherings, weddings and funerals. St. John?s Baptist Church was also a very important part of her life. She was one of the first woman deacons, co-founded and taught the McLeod-Brown Sunday School Class, and was an active member there for 61 years. Dr. McLeod is survived by her sister Elline Horn Calderwood of Santa Maria, CA; four children, Laura (MC) Sorrell, Melissa (Ken) Millette, Wm. Leslie ?Mans? (Carole) McLeod, all of Charlotte, and Katherine McLeod (Pope Langstaff) of Macon, GA; nine grandchildren, Carter (Meredith) Sorrell, John Sorrell, Emily and Allen Millette, Anna and Will McLeod, Jim, Laura and John Langstaff; two great-granddaughters, Brooks and Laura Sorrell; sister-in-law Ruby McLeod of Clinton, MS; and many loving nephews and nieces. In addition to her beloved and supportive husband Leslie, she was preceded in death by her daughter Martha Louise, brother William Merle Horn and sister Ruby Mae Horn Jernigan. There are countless people that have been important to the McLeod family, including the Henry Hildreth family, Isabelle Lee and Margaret Dulin. We would also like to express our gratitude to the staff at CMC Pineville, Southminster, and Hospice and Palliative Care for their gentle, professional care in her final days. The sanctuary at her cherished St. John?s Baptist is unavailable due to construction. Her memorial service will be held Friday, July 29, at 11 a.m. at Myers Park Baptist Church, 1900 Queens Road. After the service, the family will receive visitors in Broach Hall at St. John?s Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her honor can be made to St. John?s Baptist Church, 300 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC, 28204, Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, 1420 E Seventh St, Charlotte, NC 28204 or the charity of the donor?s choice.