Leon Tompkins

A highly respected educator, Leon Tompkins also lovingly referred to as “Mr. T” or by his grandchildren as “Bop Bop”, passed away on Monday, July 12, 2021, at Houston Medical Center. He was 81 and a half years old.

On the first day of December 1939, Leon was born in Bath, South Carolina. He was the son of the late Ira J. and Ruby J. Godbee Tompkins. In high school and college, Leon was a talented athlete, excelling in basketball and baseball. As a young adult, Leon believed that one of the best ways to invest in the future was to teach a child. He devoted a large portion of his life to instilling meaningful knowledge into the young minds of the children he taught while working for 31 years for the Houston County School System before retiring. He was proudly inducted into the Houston County Teacher Hall of Fame. Leon’s legacy will now live on through the many lives that he inspired. He was also a member of the Houston County Retired Educators Association.

Not just an educator, but also a man of God, Leon had an impact on the lives around him wherever he went, especially at Sandy Valley Baptist Church where he was a dedicated member, deacon, and teacher of Sunday School and Discipleship Training. He also enjoyed Amateur Radio where he made many friendships through HAM Radio communications.

In addition to his parents, Leon was preceded in death by his brother, Julian Tompkins.

His memory will forever be treasured by his adoring wife of 59 years, Emily Joyce Bridges Tompkins of Warner Robins; children, Julie Wood (Steve) of Cumming; Beth Braunstein (David) and Cindy Bookout (Todd); all of Warner Robins; grandchildren, Jonathan and Hannah Wood; Elizabeth Day (Bryan), William, Wesley (Carolina) and Dillon Braunstein; and Callie and Connor Bookout (Kayla); great-grandchildren, Shane Braunstein; David and Adam Loring; Lily Day; sister, Billie Ruth Russell; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation with Leon’s family will be Friday, July 16, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Sandy Valley Baptist Church. The funeral service celebrating his life will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Phil Bryant and Reverend Stephen Wood officiating. Following the service, Leon will be laid to rest in Magnolia Park Cemetery. For friends and family unable to attend, the service will be streamed live via the Sandy Valley Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SVBCWarnerRobins/

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial donations be given in memory of Leon Tompkins to the Sandy Valley Baptist Church Project Fund, 1124 S. Houston Lake Road, Warner Robins, Georgia 31088.

Learn more about the measures McCullough Funeral Home is taking to ensure the health and safety of our guests at www.mcculloughfh.com. There you can also sign an Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.