Leatha Marie Townsell was a woman of exceptional character and achievement. It is difficult to capture the full measure of her greatness within the confines of a program. Nevertheless, we pay tribute to her life and legacy, beginning with her early years. Leatha Marie Townsell was born June 26,1957 to Alberta and Lester Townsell in Cleveland, Ohio. She would be their middle child, right in between Alphea, Pamela, Larry and Melody.

She was a smart child and a “major work” student. She earned above average grades, played in the orchestra and graduated from John Marshall High School in 1975. As a teen, she loved to dance, read, watch musicals, and bowl (along with the other neighborhood kids her family and parents coached).

After graduating she began working at The Cleveland Clinic where she would meet Michael Ingram and start her family. In 1978 their son Michael Jr. was born, four years later a daughter -Lynaya. In motherhood, she was nothing short of amazing. She was supportive, affectionate, accepting, loving, creative in her parenting and fiercely proud of her children. She made sure to be a role model, a soft place, and a guiding light for her children. She accepted our friends and stepped into the role of mothering for the ones who needed that too.

She began her career as a paraprofessional in the Cleveland Public School system, moving to Bedford, and Twinsburg City Schools and would care for and assist in the learning for children with physical and emotional handicaps until retirement. She had a large heart for the kids and was committed to being what they needed. Sometimes that was a warm hug, or a stern talking to, either way she gave all she had to help them become better. Leatha had many hobbies and she was good at anything she decided to do! When she baked bread, it sold out at the West Park Fair, when she cooked it was the first dish gone, when she crafted, everyone wanted one, and she often made sure every got one. Many of us have a piece of her handiwork in our homes or even offices. She enjoyed bowling for many years and even took on a job working at the bowling alley, she shared that pastime with Bruce Goff who she was married to until his passing in 2005.

After that time, she fully committed herself to ministry dedicated to uplifting women. In ministry Leatha was enthusiastic in her approach to worship. She felt that all things could be done to the glory of God and was an innovator of praise and worship for the youth. She took young boys from getting in trouble for turning flips and cartwheels in the church parking lot; and young girls who loved to dance into a dance troupe who would do those things right in the sanctuary! It was a new style of praise for many, but she knew the efforts of the children would be honored by God. In many ways she patterned herself after her mother, she had a large heart for women in children. She started the Daughters of Zion ministry, at the New Glorious church of God in Christ, encouraging sisterhood, outreach, friendship, and support to the women in the church and community. She also became a licensed Christ based counselor, and an ordained minister. Her sermons were always so well researched and thought out, she was always a teacher. Leatha was a phenomenal “NaNa” to Aneesah, Ariel, and Jericho. She supported all their sports activities, helped with countless homework assignments and projects, and never missed an opportunity to counsel and guide them. She doted on her grandchildren as most grandparents do, she prayed for them daily and maintained a closeness with them and their friends.

In 2019 after 40 years of friendship, she married Michael, and their family was joined together! The focus from that point forward was family. She loved hosting dinners and holidays, cooking and baking and being a beacon of love.

She will be greatly missed by her husband Michael Ingram Sr, her children Michael Ingram Jr., and Lynaya McCrary, her son-in-love Aaron McCrary, her grandchildren Aneesah, Ariel and Jericho; her siblings Alphea, Pamela, Larry and Melody; her nephews and nieces Raphael, Raina, April, Brian, Philip, Monty, Mike, Brian, Finn, Philip Jr, and Harlem; two aunts, Doris Townsell and Mattie Townsell, a host of cousins, a great number of Friends (her sister circle Misty, Ginny, Monique, Iwanda and Tandra), colleagues, brothers & sisters in Christ in her church home, New Glorious Church of God in Christ.