It was during the early 1990s that he became an acting partner at Alice’s International Beauty and Nail Spa and participated in this venture until his final retirement.

Nov. 17, 1934 – Dec. 4, 2011

The home going for Leon S. Heard will be held at Mt. Zion Congregational Church, UCC. 10723 Magnolia Dr. University Circle, Cleveland, OH, on Saturday December 10. Wake will begin at 12 noon followed by the service at 1 p.m.

Leon Heard was born Nov. 17, 1934, in Bainbridge, Ga., the third child to the union of Haywood and Annie Martin Heard, both of whom preceded him in death.

In pursuing better life opportunities, the Heard family relocated to Miami when Leon was a toddler. He grew up in the Mt.Tabor Missionary Baptist Church and dedicated his life to Christ at an early age.  As an outstanding scholar, he progressed and matriculated through the Miami Public School System, graduating from Dorsey High School in 1952.

After his graduation from high school, he entered Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, where he participated in numerous student activities and advisory groups. While at Central State, he was initiated into the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity’s Delta Zeta chapter in December 1953, during the chapter’s second year after being chartered. He remained a member of his fraternity’s Cleveland Alumni chapter until his death.

In 1956, Leon graduated with honors and a Bachelor of Science Degree. Shortly after completing his education at Central State, he married his college sweetheart, Margaret Crutcher, and entered the U.S. Military Services where he served his country as a member of the U.S. Army. He received an honorable discharge upon completion of his duties. After serving his country, he began his professional career by working various jobs.

In the early 1960s, he joined the staff at Beneficial Finance Corporation. While at Beneficial, he attended the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at night and received a Doctorate of Jurisprudence Degree.

During this time, Leon remarried and wed the lovely Barbara (Bobi) Thorn.

He quickly rose to become one of Cleveland’s outstanding branch managers at Lee and Harvard, thus advancing up the corporate ladder to Beneficial Finance’s corporate headquarters in Morristown, N.J., where he served as a legal counselor.

Leon left Beneficial to pursue his legal practice and other ventures of business, including a partnership in one of Cleveland’s first African-American full service travel agencies, Burrows & Heard Travel Agency, with partners Zeke Burrows and Bob Ferguson.  Although operating in other areas of business, he never relinquished his love to practice law.

It was during the early 1990s that he became an acting partner at Alice’s International Beauty and Nail Spa and participated in this venture until his final retirement.

Leon loved and was loved by virtually everyone he met throughout his community and was well known for oftentimes going out of his way to help and share his helping hand with others.

Leon was preceded in death by his wife of nearly thirty years, Bobi; and siblings Ossie Mae, Sharon Ann and Manfred Louis. He leaves behind to cherish his memory one son, Kevin (Janice) Heard; two daughters, Taryn and Ashley; two step-sons, Steven (Duritha) Thorn and Anthony (Margaret) Ransom both of Williamson, W.Va; four grandchildren, Daniel and his sister Jordan (Kevin); Sabrina (Steven); and Alexis (Anthony); a brother Robert (Gladys) Heard; a loving mate, Barbara Fairfax; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.