Oct. 7, 1930 – Jan. 20, 2013

Mr. Leonard Donald Sawyer, age 82, a resident of 571 Avenue Road, Washington, NC, and a former resident of Belhaven died Sunday, January 20, 2013, at River Trace Nursing Center of Washington.
A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, 2013, at Belhaven Missionary Baptist Church officiated by Eddie Bowen. Burial will follow in Belhaven Community Cemetery. Dennis Morris, Roger Sawyer, Jeffery Biddix, Chad Bond, Jerry Cuthrell and Scott Collum will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Hines, Donnie Morris and Danny Morris.
Mr. Sawyer was born in Hyde County on October 7, 1930, son of the late Metrew Donald Sawyer and the late Mabel Green Sawyer. He was a 1949 graduate of J.A. Wilkinson High School and served his country in the U.S. Air Force. He served during the Vietnam and Korea eras and retired as Master Sergeant. Following his military career Mr. Sawyer worked with Mid East Housing Authority for 22 years. He married the former Ramona Lewis Hill who preceded him in death on June 13, 2003. Mr. Sawyer was a member of Belhaven Missionary Baptist Church where he had served on the Deacon
Board.
Survivors include a daughter: Macel Sawyer Willard and her husband Jack of Washington; a son: Leonard Dean Sawyer and his wife Theresa of Greenville; three grandchildren: Patricia Sparrow, Mona Ross and Brad Sawyer and his wife Mary Katherine and three great-grandchildren: Ashley Cartwright, Jessica Cartwright and Dustin Ross. Mr. Sawyer was predeceased by two sisters: his twin, Lelia Morris and Masil Sawyer and two brothers: Leroy Sawyer and Braxton Sawyer.
The family will receive friends 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday,
January 22, 2013, at Belhaven Missionary Baptist Church and other times at Mr. Sawyer’s former home and the current home of his granddaughter: Patricia Sparrow, located at 457 East Bay St. Belhaven, NC.
Flowers are welcomed and the family asks for any memorial contributions to be made to Beaufort County Chapter Relay for Life, Attn: Elizabeth Brown, P.O. Box 2708, Washington, NC 27889 or to Belhaven Missionary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 400, Belhaven, NC 27810.
Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.
Paul Funeral Home of Belhaven is honored to serve the Sawyer family.