The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at First United Holiness Church, Engram Street, Montezuma, Georgia. Elder Michael Coley, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in Staley Memorial Cemetery, Corner of Mayo/Souther Field Roads, Americus, Georgia.
Alphonia was born August 14, 1942 in Dooly County Georgia to the late Ozell Leary Sr. and Annie Mae Ranford Leary. He was preceded in death by four siblings, J.W. Leary, Danny Leary, Eloise McKenzie and Walter Leary, and a devoted son-in-law, Harry Keith Duncan.
He was a graduate of Dooly County High School in 1961. His Christian journey started at the Bethlehem Baptist Church of Dooling, Georgia, along with his family at an early age. He later had a new awakening in his Christian walk and joined the First United Holiness Church of Montezuma, Georgia under the leadership of the late Overseer Aaron Snipes. He served on the Deacon Board Ministry, Sunday School Teacher, and the Finance Committee Ministry. He was the Chairman of the National Financial Committee of Northern District; after many years of dedicated service, he retired due to declining health. He retired from Mullite of America (Mulcoa) where he retired as a foreman in 1996 after nineteen years of dedicated services.
He was united in holy matrimony to the former Maudie “Marie” Williams in 1972. They were blessed with four children, nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Survivors are a devoted wife of forty-five years, Maudie “Marie” Leary, of Byromville, Georgia; four children, Connie Leary Duncan of Ideal, Georgia, Alphonia Leary, Jr. of Byromville, Georgia, Schenita Leary Dennard of Americus, Georgia and Evie Marie Leary Kaigler of Byromville, Georgia; nine grandchildren, Jermaine Rivers (Jomea) of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Courtney Duncan (Briuna) of Marshallville, Georgia, Kiauna Duncan of Ideal, Georgia, Shonerick Leary of Albany, Georgia, Brandon Dennard of Americus, Georgia, Briauna Smith of Byromville, Georgia, Wesley Monford of Ideal, Georgia, Bria Dennard of Americus, Georgia, Jailyn Ashmon of Byromville, Georgia, Evienie Kaigler of Byromville, Georgia; siblings, Dorothy Leary Hamm of Atlanta, Georgia, Selma Leary Clark of Lithonia, Georgia, David Leary (Emma) and Ozell Leary Jr. (Dorothy), all of Byromville, Georgia and Clarence Leary (Lorene) of Lincoln, Nebraska; one aunt, Alma Glover, of Atlanta, Georgia; brothers-in-law/sisters-in-law, Pastor Lora Gaines (Johnny) of Americus, Georgia, Shirley Holcomb (Otis) of Columbus, Georgia, Pastor Colris Dianne Laster (Frankie) of Americus, Georgia, Sally Lasiter (Ray) of Americus, Georgia, Minister Roxie Ann Dixon (Rudolph) of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Eliza Williams Lester (Sam) of Americus, Georgia; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.