Leonora McKissack Ikard

Mrs. Leonora McKissack Ikard, 94, former long-time resident of Columbia, died Thursday, May 29, 2008 at The Meadows in Nashville. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols in Columbia. Private family graveside services will be at Rose Hill Cemetery with her grandsons serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Darrell Connelly, William B. Gordon, Tom Harmon, Thomas Johnson, William E. Lakey, Galen Pierce, Dr. Campbell M. Sowell, Jr., and Dr. Jonathan Sowell. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at Spring Hill Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Mr. Robert Early and the Rev. Mr. David Sawyer officiating. The family will visit with friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the church. Memorials may be made to Spring Hill Presbyterian Church, 5344 Main Street, Spring Hill 37174 or a charity of choice. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. A descendent of one of the founding families of Spring Hill, Tennessee, she was the daughter of the late Myra Rush Thompson McKissack and Orville Pope McKissack. She was a graduate of Columbia Central High School and Tennessee College for Women, where she earned a degree in music and served as President of the Student Body. Mrs. Ikard spent her professional career teaching music at the elementary and middle-school levels in Maury County public schools for over 30 years. Additionally, she taught piano and served as organist for numerous churches in Maury County. After retirement, she served as an elder for Spring Hill Presbyterian Church, where she was christened, reared, and learned to play the organ. She was an intelligent, industrious, friendly, generous, principled, Christian woman. Though demanding of her children and students, she earned loving respect from the former and abiding appreciation from the latter. Mrs. Ikard relocated to Nashville in 1986 for her retirement years. However, she maintained contact with scores of friends via telephone and prolific correspondence. Her supporting influence was thus bestowed on generations of grateful recipients. She was the mother of six surviving children, Dr. Robert Winston (Catherine) Ikard of Nashville, Harriet Thompson Ikard Stone of Rio Vista, California, John Edwin (Nancy) Ikard of Elsah, Illinois, Myra Crouch Ikard Davis of Nashville, Mary Leonora Ikard (Paul) Benner of Lake Wales, Florida, and James Cheairs Ikard of Elkton, Maryland; grandchildren, Robert Winston (Margaret) Ikard, Jr., Matthew McKissack (Margaret) Ikard, Keith Everman Ikard, Michael Scott (Kristine) Stone, Christopher Kirk Stone, Johanna Ikard, David Edwin (Christa) Ikard, Mary Ann Ikard (Ben) Swoboda, Mary Elizabeth Ikard, Anthony Wayne Davis, Robert Paul (Christa) Benner, and John Ikard (Lane) Benner.; and seven great-grandchildren. Mrs. Ikard's family extends deepest gratitude to the caring, professional staff of The Meadows of Lakeshore Estates, with special appreciation to her loving friend and caregiver, Mrs. Marva Kinnard.