Leonard Lee Poulson Funeral Program

Order of Worship

Processional. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Let Go by DeWayne Woods Scripture Reading Old Testament & New Testament. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Deborah Seward Prayer of Comfort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deborah Seward Musical Selection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I Will Be Ready by Chicago Mass Choir Acknowledgements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kaleatta Brown Reflections (2 Minute Maximum) Silent Reading of the Obituary Video Montage Musical Selection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I Look to You By Whitney Houston Eulogy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pastor Brandon Lorthridge

Executive Pastor/Associate Minister Oxford Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Ruther Glen, VA

Reccesional. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .He Has His Hands On You by Marvin Sapp

Interment

3 PM Hampton Memorial Gardens 135 Butler Farm Road Hampton, VA 23666

Repast

4:30 PM American Legion Post 67 900 Kecoughtan Rd Hampton, VA 23661

Obituary

Leonard Lee Poulson was born on December 16, 1945 to the late Lucille Poulson. He fell ill December 12, 2023 due to his long standing battle with Alzheimer’s. He was under the care of Riverside Home Health and later on Amedisys Hospice. Leonard transitioned peacefully amongst his daughters, son-in-law’s, and grandkids at his daughter’s home in Yorktown on Tuesday, December 19, 2023. His transition was a moment of peace for him due to his pain and decline with Alzheimer’s.

Leonard was a kind soul and gentle spirit. He was a loving and devoted husband of 55 years to his high school sweetheart Mary. He was a devoted father to his 6 children known as, “The Six Pack.” He was honored as “Father of the Year” in 2004 by one of the local peninsula chapters of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated at their fatherhood breakfast. He loved his grandkids while taking care of each one of them as if they were his own. He devoted his time to taking care of his family. He had several skills from carpentry, plumbing, fixing cars and painting. It was nothing that he would not do for anyone. He was very giving and kind. He did whatever he had to do to take care of his family due to him being the sole provider. He loved to pick his grand kids up from school and take them on outings.

Leonard graduated from Mary N. Smith High School in 1966. He was a member of New Mount Zion Baptist in Painter, VA. He later became a member of the Nation of Islam. He studied Architectural drawings at Lasalle Extension University (c/o 1969). He worked for Newport News Shipbuilding with the dry dock and pipe department from 1968 to 1974 and Virginia State School from 1974 to 1978. In 1978, he transitioned to Newport News Public Schools as a custodian and advanced to an Area Supervisor. He retired from Newport News Public Schools in 2008.

Leonard was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Poulson; mother, Lucille Poulson; daughter, Vernita Poulson; granddaughter, Zuri Bannerman; sister, Vanessa Poulson and brothers, Robert Poulson and Emerson Poulson.

Left to cherish Leonard’s precious memories: his daughters, Fontella Poulson of Hampton VA, Pamela Poulson of Hampton, VA (Dion Newsome, Future Son-In-Law of Hampton, VA), Cassandra (Derrick) McKinney of Yorktown VA, Jameelah Poulson of Newport News VA, Shakeela (Jawan) Dickerson of Hampton, VA; sister’s, Frances Titus of Newport News, VA and Lucille Poulson of Salisbury, MD; brother’s, Louis Poulson of Hampton, VA and Larry Poulson of Philadelphia, PA; grandson, Antonio of Tampa, FL; granddaughters, Ramya, Corrina, Nakyla, Kamirra, Khalia and Malia all of Hampton, VA; sister-in-law, Dorothy (Albert Chisum) of New Church, VA; brothers-in-law, Louis (Rosa Duncan) of Horntown, VA, James (Laura Smith) of Painter, VA, William Duncan of Melfa, VA, John Duncan of Melfa, VA and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

Floral Bearers

Ramya Jackson Nakyla Jackson Corrina Poulson-Austin

Kamirra Jakson Malia Dickerson Khalia Dickerson

Antionio Poulson Brandon Johnson Derrick McKinney

Louis Poulson Jawan Dickerson Duvonya (Dion) Newsome

Pallbearers

He Only Takes The Best

God saw that he was getting tired, A cure was not to be.

So He put His arms around him and whispered, “Come with Me.” With tearful eyes, we watched him suffer, And saw him fade away.

Although we loved him dearly, We could not make him stay.

A golden heart stopped beating, Hard working hands to rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes “the best.”