Leah Woodbury Jennings, 88, passed peacefully into the glory of our Lord on Monday, February 21, 2022 with family and much love at her bedside. She was born January 30, 1934 in Randolph, Vermont, the daughter of Clifford Henry Jones and Olga Frances Woodbury Jones. In addition to her parents remembered with much love was Leah's sister, Mona Lee Mayo.

From the moment the dashing Chuck Jennings met the fun loving demure Leah Jones in September 1954, he wooed her with daffodils and love songs. They married three weeks later, and Chuck and Leah's enduring love nurtured five children together. Chuck's passing in 1994 to cancer was deeply felt and grieved; their family is comforted knowing they are together again, celebrating their shared faith, laughing, dancing, and raising a ruckus in eternity. Whenever and wherever the entire Jennings family gathers, great love, loud laughter, and silliness abound, as they welcome all into their fold. It always meant a great deal to her to have her family together, as they were at her side when she passed into eternity.

The entire world was considered family to Leah, she made fast friends in church pews, parking lots, and grocery store aisles, sharing peace, love, and laughter with everyone she met.

She loved music of all kinds, from show tunes to Irish melodies to classic hymns, and she loved to sing, being a part of the choir wherever she lived was significant to her. Leah's generous way was felt in each community she was part of, from high school and college bands, to theaters, museums, churches, and the local hospital. Daffodils, Easter lilies, irises, hydrangeas, cardinals, rabbits, all things natural, including camping trips in Vermont, delighted her heart. Wildly creative, she and Chuck decorated delicately blown eggs, painted beautiful beach scenes on wood planks, created perpetual calendars, and crafted miniatures. For Leah, gift giving was glorious! Creating and giving unique and personal gifts to those she loved, she delighted in their receiving a gift which showed that she really knew them. Devilishly competitive in Scrabble and Cribbage, she was brilliantly strategic. Rumors that she cheated or created words that didn't really exist remain unconfirmed. She was often heard sharing the strategic advice "You win Scrabble with the two letter words."

Psalm 121 was dear to her mother Olga and also became one of Leah's favorites, even more so when Chuck and Leah's lives were forever changed as they were awakened to a deep relationship with Jesus Christ in 1992. A beautiful remembrance of Leah's faith and relationship with God is this prayer she wrote and kept near:

Give me strength for today, Lord wherever I go. Let no danger daunt me whether the foe. Let no task overcome me, no trial my heart fret I would walk with Thee Lord. In the path Thou hast set let no burden overcome me. Give me strength to bear. Then I shall have courage whatever my care. Let no grief overwhelm wherever I am. Give me strength for today, Lord Strength from Thy Hand. Amen.

Cherishing her memory are her children: Nancy (Douglas), Clifford (Paula), Christina (Michael), Craig (Catherine), Scott (Sherry); grandchildren, Melissa, Leah (Bryan), Christopher, Matthew (Katie), Claire (Jimmy), Susie, Erick (Max), Abby (Connor), and Steven (Autumn); great grandchildren, Jacob, Julia, Natalie, and Charles; sister, Ruth Nye (Peter); numerous nieces, nephews, extended family; her best friend of 63 years Charlotte Williams and family Cheryl (Joel) Conner; and dear friend, Marty Morrell.

Arrangements for a future memorial celebration will be made at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of her favorite non profit organizations: Zoweh (www.zoweh.org), Methodist Home for Children (www.mhfc.org), Feeding America (www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/north-carolina), Boy Scouts of America (www.scouting.org) or the charity of your choice.

Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family by selecting Tribute Wall.

A service of Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel.