Leon Arthur Givens died on Sunday, April 16, 2006. He was born in St. Louis, to the union of Henry Givens Sr. and Catherine (Johnson) Givens. Leon Givens was educated in the St. Louis Public Schools, where he attended Simmons Elementary School and graduated from Sumner High School in 1952. He served in the United States Army and was employed by the U.S. Post Office for 35 years.
He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior at an early age and was baptized at Antioch Baptist Church, in St. Louis.
Mr. Givens was active in the community where he served as a volunteer in numerous churches and was also a volunteer firefighter for the University City Fire Department.
Leon Givens is survived by four children: Leon Jr. (May), Darryl, Gina, and Amber Givens; five grandchildren: Amanda Johnson, John Leonard, Gerald Givens, David Cross and Melissa Givens; six great-grandchildren: Keayra Robinson, Calvin Johnson, Angel, Immanuel, Ja’elon and Genesis Leonard; two brothers and a sister: Robert Givens Sr. (Vertrilla), Armetta Whitmore (Artie) and Henry Givens Jr. (Belma) and a host of other family members and friends.
Visitation was held at the Austin A. Layne Mortuary (Renaissance Chapel) on Wednesday, April 26. The funeral service was held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the Leon Givens Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, Harris-Stowe State University, 3026 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63103.
