Louise Stewart Leach

Helen Louise Stewart Leach, 84, passed away on Monday, January 29, 2024.

She was born in Wilmington, Delaware on October 23, 1939, the first of five children born to James Conly Stewart and Helen Susan Mathieu Stewart. She began her church organist career at age 14 at Hanover and Concord Presbyterian Churches in DE. She graduated from P.S. DuPont High School (Wilmington, DE) in 1957 and from the College of Wooster (Wooster, OH) in 1961 with a degree in Sociology. In 1962, she married Thomas James Leach, Jr. also of Wilmington, DE. They resided in several states, including Virginia, Missouri, Florida, and North Carolina, but made their home in Laurinburg, NC where they raised their two girls, Karen and Heather.

In Laurinburg, Louise was organist at First United Methodist Church for 30 years and taught piano and organ lessons to hundreds of students. In addition to her music career, she owned and managed a bookstore, Cover to Cover Books, where she shared her passion for reading and learning with her customers.

When she retired, Louise moved to Harrisonburg in 2005 to be close to her family. She especially enjoyed being near her grandchildren, Emma and Drew, who always brought her great joy. She continued to be active in the church, and joined Asbury Methodist Church where she was a member for almost 20 years. She participated in small groups, played in the handbell choir, and filled in on the organ bench when needed.

While music was always important to Louise, the center of her life was her family. She loved being a daughter, a sister, a mother, and a grandmother. She drove up and down the road to Wilmington, DE many times for family gatherings and visits with her parents, sisters, nieces and nephews. She also made many trips to visit her daughter Karen in Hickory, NC. It meant a great deal to her to spend time with her family and to instill that tradition in her own children and grandchildren.

Connections were so important to her. She kept in touch with friends from college and from the various places she'd lived through letter-writing and frequent phone calls. She often visited church members and brought them meals and a friendly face. Louise gave people the greatest gift that she had to offer: a caring, listening ear and time to share. She was loved by many close friends and her treasured family; she will be missed greatly but remembered always.

Louise is survived by her two daughters, Karen Elizabeth Leach of Laurinburg, NC and Heather Leach Lankford of Harrisonburg, VA; son-in-law, Andy Lankford, and two grandchildren, Emma Catherine and Andrew (Drew) James Lankford; three sisters: Susan Williamson (Randy) and Becky Arnold (Tim) of Wilmington, DE, and Linda Zankowsky (Michael) of Garnet Valley, PA. Louise will always be lovingly thought of by her nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, James Conly Stewart, Jr of Kingsport, TN.

A memorial service and reception will be held on June 1, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Asbury United Methodist Church in Harrisonburg, VA.

There will also be a memorial service and reception on March 16, 2024 at 1:00 PM at First United Methodist Church in Laurinburg, NC.

Memorial contributions may be made to help fund a new organ at St. David's Episcopal Church in Laurinburg. This church was close to Louise's heart with many of her close friends and daughter Karen being part of the congregation. Please contact the church office at (910) 276-1757 for more information.

Memorial contributions can also be made to the James C. Stewart '38 Scholarship Fund at the University of Delaware. Make checks payable to University of Delaware and send to Development & Alumni Relations, University of Delaware, 83 E. Main St, 3rd Floor, Newark, DE 19716. Please include that the donation is for the James C. Stewart '38 Scholarship Fund in memory of Louise S. Leach.

Arrangements have been handled by McMullen Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.mcmullenfh.com.