Rebecca Louise Gaddy's Obituary
Rebecca Louise Leonard Gaddy, 87, of New London, NC, passed away on November 22, 2025 at Atrium Health Stanly. Rebecca, was known by her family as (Becky), was born in Thomasville, NC, March 30, 1938 to Everette Edward and Ila Mae Hunt Leonard. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Jerry Vernon Leonard and Roy Edward Leonard, her paternal grandparents, Edward Wilson and Lula Bell Beck Leonard, and maternal grandparents. George Elijah and Laura Elizabeth Kearns Hunt. Surviving are, her husband, William Calvin Gaddy, sister-in-law, Frances Harrington, of Albemarle, brother, Robert Dale (Delores) Leonard, Thomasville, NC, and sister Margaret Ellen Leonard Lowe of Lexington. She had a large family of nieces and nephews, Kim, Jerry, Wendy, Debra, Natasha, Alexandra, Courtney, Edward, Crystal, Ashley, Lisa, Amy, Denise, Charles, Joy, and Godson, Mitchell Cohen, as well as many great nieces and nephews.
Rebecca loved her family and cats that just seem to show up at her house, someone said they knew where the restaurant was. She enjoyed her career with the NC Cooperative Service as a Home Economics Agent in Anson and Stanly County. The career offered her many opportunities working with people. She was president of NC Association of Extension Home Economists, Epsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity, Albemarle Rotary Club, and Friends of the Stanly County Senior Center. She helped organize the Keep Beautiful Committee, Friends of the Senior Center and the Stanly County Historical Society. During her lifetime, she was on many committees in her work and volunteer organizations. A graduate of Pilot High School, Thomasville, NC, Women's College (UNC-G) with a degree in Home Economics Education and advanced studies at NC State and UNC-G. She even worked eight years part-time at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Misenheimer, NC as a church secretary. She received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Extension Home Economists, Epsilon Sigma Phi, Albemarle Rotary Club and Clarence D. Hinson Volunteer Award.
A member of First Lutheran Church in Albemarle and a volunteer for First Lutheran Church Blanket Makers, New London Area Historical Museum and Albemarle Rotary Club.
A memorial service will be held at First Lutheran Church in Albemarle, NC on Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM. A reception will follow the service in the Parish Hall at the church. Interment will be held at a later date in the New London Cemetery.
She requested that you wear colorful clothing, because God made beautifully colored flowers and you are the flowers. She did not like black!
In Lieu of flowers, memorials or donations may be made to the First Lutheran Church Blanket Makers or the First Lutheran Church Transportation Committee (230 S. Second St. Albemarle, NC 28001), Stanly County Humane Society (2049 Badin Rd. Albemarle, NC 28001) or Stanly County Historical Society (157 N. Second St. Albemarle, NC 28001)
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