Deacon Odell Charles Leslie, 72, formerly of 713 Yelton Drive, Lawndale, NC, peacefully transitioned from this life on Monday, November 18, 2024 at Atrium Health-Cleveland in Shelby, NC.

He was born on October 1, 1952 in Shelby, NC to the late Ira Matthew Leslie and Odessia Byers Leslie. He was a faithful member of the Community Baptist Church, Lawndale, NC where he served as a Deacon and Sunday School Superintendant. He worked for GDS Republic Waste for more than 20 years until his health declined. He enjoyed encouraging people and talking about the Lord. He loved his family and was proud of each of them.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by brothers, Walter A. Leslie and James Coleman Leslie; and sisters, Gracie Leslie Parks and Juanita Leslie Lattimore.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 51 years, Shirley Peeler Leslie; daughter, Tomeka Leslie of Arden, NC; son, Kendrick Leslie, Sr. (Mozine) of Wendell, NC; grandchildren, Kendrah, Zachary, Kadeliah, and Kendrick Leslie, Jr. (KJ) all of Lawndale, NC, Mina Chanakira of Washington, DC, Mason Turnage of Greensboro, NC; and great grandchild, Kyndall Raine Crosby of Lawndale, NC. Nieces and nephews he had a hand in rearing are William, Shanyka, Marquette, and Tavis Parks all of Lawndale, NC, and Evangelist Sonya Chalk (Melvin) of Kingstown, NC. Additional family left to cherish his memory are sisters, Marie West of Jamaica, NY, Maggie Smith of Lawndale, NC, Christine Howell (Thamon), and Ruth Fuller (Robert) of Shelby, NC; brothers, Marshall Leslie (Pam), Ben Leslie (Sabrina) both of Lawndale, NC, and Carl Leslie (Tammy) of Winston-Salem, NC; sisters in law Patsy Leslie of Silver Springs, MD, Eloise Leach of Shelby, NC, and Janet Young-Peeler of Durham, NC; his last remaining aunt, Narcissus Byers Lowery of Charlotte, NC; Aleesha Roberts, God grandchild, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Palmer Grove Baptist Church, Kingstown, NC, at 11:30 a.m.