Leroy Keith's Obituary
Leroy Keith, 94, of Chattanooga, passed away Tuesday, August 1, 2023, in a local hospital. He was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on December 12, 1928 to Robert Keith and Lucy Dickens Gilbert. Leroy was educated at Howard Elementary School. He worked at DuPont for several years and made his career in housekeeping at Memorial Hospital for 16 years from where he later retired. Leroy was a faithful member of Westside Baptist Church for 50+ years unitl his health declined. He was an usher and sang in the choir. Leroy was a resident of Mary Walker Towers for 27 years. He received a VIP honor award for Volunteer Services from C-HSD in 1993-1994, as well as a Resident Greeter for Mary Walker Towers, and an Award of Appreciation from the Chattanooga Housing Authority from 1999-2004. Leroy was an avid Howard Girls and Boys Basketball Team fan who went to all the games for over 60 years and had his personal seat at the games. He loved riding the CARTA bus every day from the end of the line and back. Leroy was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Battle Keith; father, Robert Keith; mother, Lucy Dickens Gilbert; grandfather, Bud Dickens; grandmother, Lillie Dickens; sister, Mary Ethel Ruffin; brother, James “Sonny” Clark; aunt, Ethel Jones; uncle, Melvin Dickens, Sr.; and cousin, James Day. Survivors include his caretaker and devoted daughter, Lawanda (Herman, Sr.) Prater; sons, Van (Brenda) Keith, Sr. and Stanley (Brenda) Keith; granddaughters, Danielle (Eric) Madding and Stacie Carter; grandsons, Van Keith, Jr., Benjamin Keith, and Herman Prater, Jr. great-grandson, Jalen Moore; affectionately known as Uncle Leroy to Paulette (Riley) Walker, Seabron (Mickey) Battle, Renee (John) Word, and Wilson (Ida) Perry; a host of great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; cousins; other relatives and friends. Leroy will lie-in-state on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at 9 a.m. at Westside Baptist Church. Funeral service will follow at 12 noon at the church with Carol Johnson as the eulogist. Burial in Highland Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are by Taylor Funeral Home of Chattanooga, Inc.
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