Leon Gordon
Posted: December 17, 2014
Leon Frederick Gordon, age 84, died Monday, December 15, 2014. Services will be held Thursday, December 18, 2014, at 2:00 PM at Temple B’nai Israel with Rabbi Seth Oppenheimer officiating. Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be held from noon until service time at the Temple. Mr. Gordon was born on Friday, June 13, 1930, to the late I. Jack and Sara Stotland Gordon. Leon was the owner of The Globe, the family business for 78 years. He loved his customers….they were his friends, some called him Mr. Globe. He was born in Jackson, MS and grew up in Columbus, a town and its’ community of which he was very proud. He attended Lee High School, where he was a member of the Key Club, TKO fraternity, the Honor Society and was first chair clarinetist in the Lee High Band all four years. One of his fondest memories was playing the butler in the senior play! He graduated from the University of Alabama, where he was a member of Kappa NU Fraternity He joined the U.S. Army after graduation and played in the Army Band. Leon was a kind and gentle man; he was a caretaker and truly loved to help anyone in need. He often gave clothes to people in need including student Rabbis and people who could not afford burial clothes. He couldn’t eat a meal without sharing. Leon was a member of Temple B’nai Israel where he served on the board for many, many years. He made sure the building and grounds were maintained, and even had a fence put around the property. His sense of fairness and his sense of humor were contagious. He liked to make people laugh. He always had a smile for everyone; he was charming. People knew they could count on Leon. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Annice Lockler Gordon. Survivors include His Son, Gary Samuel Gordon (Loria); Step-son, Vick Younger (Lisa); One Sister, Shirley Riff Billings (Calvin); One Grandson, Dylan Samuel Gordon; Nieces, Linda Riff Parker (John) and Nancy Riff Ferguson (Craig); Nephew, Todd Gordon Riff (Silvia); Special friend, Virginia Ford and Special cousin, Syril Portnoy. Pallbearers will be Paul Lasky, Merle Frazier, Joe Harris, Phil Stotland, Dylan Gordon, Fred Fine, and Todd Riff In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: Temple B’nai Israel, 717 2nd Ave North, Columbus MS 39701.