Albert Ray Leggett

September 23, 1940 - January 20, 2022

Albert Ray Leggett, 81, of Jones County passed away January 20, 2022 at his residence of 58 years in the Glade Community. Visitation will be at Memory Chapel Funeral Home on Sunday, January 23rd beginning at 1:00 p.m. with his service following at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be at Lake Park Hills Cemetery. Rev. Steve Jackson of West Laurel Baptist Church will officiate. He was born September 23, 1940 in Clarke County, Mississippi. At the age of 2 his family moved to Laurel. The rest of his life, except for a time in the Army, was spent living in Laurel and Jones County. He attended Laurel City Schools for ten and a half years. His parents built a home in the county and he graduated from Calhoun High School in 1958. He served in the Mississippi National Guard and United States Army for six years and was honorable discharged with the rank of Sergeant. After working four years with Masonite Corporation he went to work with Southern Bell in October 0f 1962. Later Southern Bell became South Central Bell. In 1984 his job was transferred to AT&T because of divestiture of the Bell System. At the age of 50 in November of 1990 he retired as a Large Business System Technician with a combined total of 28 years with these three companies. In October of 1992 he returned to the telecommunications field and worked 11 more years with 3E Communications of Ocean Springs, MS. After being active for 40 years in his chosen field, he retired in 2003 for the last time. He became a Master Mason at the age of 21 and later joined Hamasa Shrine, Grand Rite Bodies of MS and the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. For many years he was a very dedicated member of the Laurel Shrine Club serving as Treasurer in 1987 and 1988 and Club President in 1989. He was named Shriner of the Year by Hamasa Shrine in 1994. In 2004 he was awarded the Shriner’s Samsar Jewel. While serving the Lord he taught Sunday School, Bible Studies, did programs for the Brotherhood and helped in Children’s Bible School. For many years he was a dedicated member of West Laurel Baptist Church where he served in various capacities. He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Rita Thornton Gambrell Leggett; father and mother, Walter A. Leggett and Myrtle Pugh Leggett; four sisters, Lucille Mixon, Elizabeth Sanderson, Louise Parker and Betty Hathorn; and four brothers, Curtis Leggett, Martin Leggett, James Allen Leggett, and J. W. Leggett. He is survived by three fine sons, Walter Ray Leggett (Connie), Bruce Allen Leggett (Peggy) and Terry Wayne Gambrell (Tammy); one sister, Anne Watts; nine grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren, all loved very much. In lieu of flowers please help a child by making a donation to the Laurel Shrine Club Transportation Fund, Post Office Box 691, Laurel, MS 39441. The family respectfully request social distancing during services.