Gerald "Jerry" Bruce Leland

Gerald (Jerry) Bruce Leland was born October 6, 1943, to Milton and Anne (Schneider) Leland in The Bronx, NY.  He was raised by his parents in Queens, NY.  On June 23, Jerry  lost his second battle with pancreatic cancer.  He was diagnosed in 2013 and fought a gallant fight so that after surgeries and chemo was in remission until 2016.  His last battle was not as successful but he kept fighting up to the end.  He was predeceased by his parents, Milton and Anne, and his grandparents.  He is survived by his spouse/companion, Lillian Shurtleff; son Milton and Stephanie Leland of Henrico, VA; son David Leland and Charlotte Tyner of Raleigh, NC; and sister, Barbara Fein of Freeport, NY.  His pride and joy were his grandsons, Remington and Alexander Leland, sons of Milton and Stephanie.              Jerry graduated from Bayside High School in Queens and attended Stevens Institute of Technology graduating with a degree in industrial engineering.  During his work career he was employed by Grumman and other corporations.  Upon retirement, he moved to Georgia.  His love was photography, especially anything to do with nature, and computers.  He developed several websites for various friends and organizations. In high school and college, he played soccer earning a letter and continued to be a fan all his life.  The World Cup was priority watching even this year.              Jerry was active as an adult Scout leader when his two boys were young.  After meeting Lil and moving to Hinesville, he registered and was trained as a unit commissioner with Coastal Georgia Council.  He also served as a troop committee member, accompanying the troop to summer camp and a weekend camp experience aboard the Yorktown,  He was a member of the Liberty Coastal Lions Club serving as club secretary, club marketing/communications chair, and president.  He also served three terms as a district zone chair; a district committee chair as well as a state committee chair several times.  He received 6 Golden Chain Awards, 100% Zone Chair Award, and an International Membership Key.  His main interest was the Lions Camp in Waycross where he served as a member of the board and committee chair.  He received several Certificates of Appreciation for his work.  For his service to Lionism and the community, Jerry was inducted into the Lions District Hall of Fame in 2018.  Jerry was a Progressive Melvin Jones.   He was a member of the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America, serving as the webmaster for Chapter 789 and the Georgia VVA Chapter.             Jerry and Lil enjoyed traveling.  They had the opportunities to travel to Alaska, Caribbean islands, Panama, Columbia, Costa Rico, and Puerto Rico.  He enjoyed waking at 5 am to watch the ship go through the Panama Canal locks from their balcony.  Jerry attended several Lions USA/Canada Forums and international conventions.  The mountains of north Georgia were their favorite place.  They once spent several days just visiting waterfalls.  Jerry also walked the Tallulah Gorge down, across, up to the rim and back.                         Many thanks to Hospice Care of Georgia, especially Heather Boggs and Catina Shuman for their care in his last months.             A memorial service will be held on  July 7, 11 am  at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Hinesville with burial following in the Memorial Garden.   In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Georgia Lions Camp, 5626 Laura Walker Rd., Waycross, GA  31503 or St. Philip’s Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, 302 East General Stewart Way, Hinesville, GA 31313. Online condolences may be made at www.CarterOglethorpe.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gerald "Jerry" Bruce Leland, please visit our flower store.