Mrs. Snellings passed from this life Sunday evening at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in Collierville.
She was born in Ashland, MS, the daughter of the late Edward Luther and Winnie Angeline West James and lived her life in Benton, Shelby and Hardeman Counties. She was preceded in death by husbands, Grady Leath (d. April, 1956), Alfred Doyle (d. March, 1982) and Herman Snellings (d. April, 1986). Others who have passed before her include her sister, Mae Hensley; four brothers, Wade, Vance, Haze and Murray James; three step-children, Carolyn Goddard, Gene and Thomas Doyle, and special life-long friend, Wilma Bynum.
Cleo loved her flowers and working in her yard. She was a faithful servant and above all loved the Lord. Some of her best memories were of her group of ladies from Saulsbury who met in fellowship and service. She was a member of the Saulsbury Baptist Church.
When her husband, Grady, went home to be with the Lord leaving her with two sons to raise, she moved from Canaan, MS to Memphis and became a nurse's aid at Baptist Memorial Hospital where she cared for people. She said, "I didn't have a lot of skills, but I knew I could take care of people."
Survivors include sons, Henry (Sallye) Leath of Germantown, TN and Glen (Ava) Leath of Rossville, TN; four grandchildren, James Rodney (Patti) Leath, Teresa Leath (Mike) Rodgers, Cindy Leath (Shannon) Wright and Rex Aubrey (Sharon) Leath; 10 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and 5 step-grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to: Saulsbury Baptist Church, 123 Church Street, Saulsbury, TN 38067; or Canaan Cemetery Fund, 14772 Highway 72, Ashland, MS 38603.