Doris Marie Lewis

November 5, 1930 - December 27, 2020

Doris Marie Franklin was born on November 5, 1930, in Ypsilanti, Michigan. She was the sixth child and first daughter born to Anna and Charles Arthur Franklin. Doris attended Ypsilanti Public schools. As a young girl, she loved playing jacks and hopscotch with her friends on the sidewalk. While in high school, Doris was a member of the school swim team winning several medals. In her senior year of high school, Doris married her childhood sweetheart, William Curtis Leonard (Milford) on July 31, 1948. To this covenant union, eleven children were born. In 1956, Doris accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at Mt. Olive Church of God in Christ in Ypsilanti, Michigan under the pastoral leadership of Elder Charles Barksdale. Doris often said, “This is a wonderful thing knowing that the Spirit of Christ dwells in me.” Doris was a devoted wife and loving mother. She supervised homework and never missed one parent-teacher conference. At the end of every school day, goodies and hot tea would welcome her children home. The Leonard house welcomed the neighborhood children and everyone knew it was the place for snacks and games. In later years, the high school football team found their way to the Leonard home to visit and eat. Both Doris and William encouraged their children to study and dinnertime was set aside as a place for discussion of school and politics. Doris always made certain that her children studied and memorized their Bible verses for their Saturday Sunshine Band classes. Doris was a well- studied and dedicated Bible student and would later become one of the Wednesday evening Bible Band teachers at Mt. Olive Church of God in Christ, Ypsilanti, Michigan. She faithfully served on the usher board, the place where she could watch her children during Sunday morning worship service. In 1978, Doris’ beloved husband passed away after an extensive cardiac illness. She decided to do something different and took a job at Gilbert Convalescent Home. Later she would meet and marry Guy Lewis, a deacon at New Bethel Church of God in Christ, Ypsilanti, Michigan. Doris met new friends and immediately became an active member at New Bethel. Doris loved to crochet and made certain every new grandchild was welcomed into the family with a beautifully crocheted blanket. When she suffered a debilitating stroke in 2005, Doris continue to crochet until she could not. She spent hours solving word search puzzles, reading newspapers and magazines, and watching vintage westerns. Doris was preceded in death by the husband of her children, William Curtis Leonard, daughter, Diane Marie Leonard and son, Kenneth Eugene Leonard, and son-in-law, Harley Branch, Sr.; and Guy Lewis, her second husband. Doris bequeaths to her children a legacy of faith; Dr. Mildred Leonard Butler, Inglewood, California; Linda Leonard Branch, Madison Heights, Michigan; Milford Leonard (La Rhonda), Lakewood, California; Garry Leonard, Pensacola, Florida; Glenn Leonard (Jonalyn), Pearl City, Hawaii; Ronald Leonard, Fullerton, California; Denise Leonard, Ypsilanti, Michigan, Eric Leonard, Las Vegas, Nevada; and Todd Leonard (Keisha), Dearborn, Michigan. Grandma Doris leaves a treasury of memories to her grandchildren and great children. “Aunt Doris” leaves her hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow to generations of Franklin cousins, nieces and nephews. “Momma Doris” leaves a bouquet of thanks and “I know that’s right,” to Superior Woods Health Care staff. And for New Bethel, prayer partners, and Mother Lewis’ circle of friends a certain hope in Christ!