James "Jim or The Conductor" Lewis Leslie

James Lewis Leslie, Sr., 95, resident of 1006 Hwy. 28 North, husband of Martha Olivia Wilson Leslie, passed away Thursday April 24, 2008 at Abbeville Area Medical Center after a brief illness.

He was the eleventh of thirteen children of the late William Edwin and Annie Donnald Henry Leslie, born March 4, 1913 on the Leslie Family ancestral farm in Abbeville County. The farm was a land grant dating back to the mid 1700's. In 1971 the old family home burned, and the original bricks from the home's six chimney's were used to rebuild the brick home that now exists.

After graduating Abbeville High School, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp. After finishing his service, he resumed participation in the family farming activities.

In 1939 he married Martha Olivia Wilson and after briefly working at Milliken Mills he began a career with Seaboard Airline Railroad now CSX that spanned more than thirty seven years. That career earned him his family nickname "The Conductor".

James was a lifelong member of Abbeville Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon. He was also a mason and a member of the Clinton Lodge # 3 AFM and a Shriner and a member of the Hejaz Shrine Temple.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years Martha Wilson Leslie of the home; his children James L. Leslie, Jr. (Jimmy) of Irmo, SC, Ann Pursley and her husband Franklin of Jacksonville, FL and Henry Stephen Leslie and his wife Elle of Seneca, SC; grandchildren Jennifer Leslie, Lynn Goss, Leigh Ann Zikus, Scott Leslie, Alison Hanna, Amanda Harris and Todd Leslie; Great-grandchildren are Grayson and Caroline Goss and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers William Edwin, Frank Henry, Alpheus Ezekiel, Albert Henry, David Hill, John Donnald, Robert Hall, Mac Henry and Nicholas Miller and sisters Virginia Miller, Sarah Thunberg and Annie Donnald Corkrum.

Funeral services will be conducted Sunday April 27, 2008 at 2:30 PM in the Abbeville Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Michael Bush and the Rev. Jimmy Williams officiating. The burial will follow in Long Cane Cemetery with Masonic Rites. The family is at the residence 1006 Hwy. 28 North Abbeville, SC.

Mr. Leslie is at The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home where the family will recieve friends from 6:00 until 7:30 PM Saturday evening.

Memorials may be made to the Abbeville Presbyterian Church P O Box 733 Abbeville, SC 29620.

Visitation

Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home
208 South Main Street
Abbeville, SC  29620
Saturday, April 26, 2008
6:00-7:30 PM

Service

Abbeville Presbyterian Church
301 N Main St
Abbeville, SC  29620
Sunday, April 27, 2008
2:30 PM

Interment

Long Cane Cemetery
Due West Hwy
Abbeville ,  SC  29620